Ishaan Khatter had a standout moment in New York as legendary filmmaker and executive producer Martin Scorsese hosted a special screening of Homebound, Neeraj Ghaywan’s second feature film. The evening brought together the film’s core team, with Ishaan front and centre as Scorsese spoke passionately about the project and the performances that shaped it.
During the post-screening conversation with Neeraj, Scorsese shared how deeply he has been connected to Homebound, revealing that he has lived with the film and its script for nearly three years. Speaking about his involvement, he said, “We worked on the film and I loved the film, and I was telling your actors that I have seen it so many times… having gone through the script. I remember reading the script even while I was making Killers of the Flower Moon. In a way, I have been living with it for three years, so it’s quite satisfying to see it here. I love that audiences in America get to see this picture.”
“I know it’s based on a real story. The tragedy of the image… but you also deal with the joy of these characters and the joy of life. I am impressed with how you related to the story in that way, instead of a ponderous kind of lecture. You go at it with the humanity of these two kids, plus their families.”
Ishaan, who leads the film alongside Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, was present during this exchange, witnessing Scorsese describe the emotional depth and humanity at the heart of the story. For Ishaan, being part of the screening and hearing Scorsese speak so personally about the film was a career-defining moment. The actor has spoken about how special the day felt to him and how the filmmaker’s words about his work are something he will always remember.
Based on Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times article, Homebound follows the story of two friends navigating life during the lockdown. Written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Dharma Productions, the film has travelled from Cannes to Toronto and Melbourne, garnering acclaim along the way. Now, with Ishaan representing the film internationally and standing alongside a cinematic great like Scorsese, Homebound continues to build on its remarkable global journey.