‘Homebound’ actor Vishal Jethwa opens up on difficult childhood as he lost his father, his mother was a domestic help, raised him single-handedly |

Vishal Jethwa is the man of the moment with his film ‘Homebound’ being shortlisted for Oscars 2026. While the film did not ultimately secure a spot among this year’s Academy Award nominations, its journey has still proven to be pivotal for the actor. The project has earned him attention in India as well as abroad, offering a renewed sense of confidence after a comparatively quiet phase following his debut in Mardaani 2. For an outsider navigating Bollywood’s closed doors, Homebound stands out as an important checkpoint in a long and determined journey.In a recent interaction with Humans of Bombay, Vishal spoke candidly about the hardships that defined his early life. Recalling his background, he said, “I come from a lower-middle-class, or rather a very poor family. I consider this a privilege because it gave me the opportunity to grow, both as an actor and as a person. I closely observed my parents’ lives. I lost my father at a very young age, and I saw how my mother single-handedly raised all of us and struggled to keep us going. I witnessed financial crises. I didn’t have a normal childhood like everyone else, but in some way, that has also helped me grow as an actor.”He also shared details about his schooling and formative years. “I studied in a Gujarati-medium school and lived in Malad. After sixth standard, we shifted to Mira Road. Later, I went to Thakur College in Kandivali, that’s how my childhood went. When I was in the ninth grade, I started working as a background dancer on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs. Once, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Asin came to promote their film London Dreams, and I danced in the background. But after a while, I realised this wasn’t what I wanted to do.”Speaking about his mother, Vishal grew emotional as he reflected on her sacrifices. “I am very close to my mother because of the struggle and sacrifice she has endured. Even before I start talking about my own journey and everything I have done, I immediately think about what she has done for me. She had a very tough childhood. In that sense, mine was far better because my parents never made me realise what we lacked.”He further elaborated on the difficulties she faced growing up, saying, “Her childhood was such that she worked as a domestic help. She would go from house to house doing cleaning work. When I think about that, I realise, what do I really have to complain about in life?”Vishal has previously spoken about his family’s financial struggles in other interviews as well. In one such conversation, he shared, “I come from a very poor family, and I was actually confident because my sister told me before I left, ‘Don’t stress so much, because you are the son of a domestic help.’ She literally cleaned people’s homes, did jhadoo-pocha, and sold sanitary pads in a supermarket. My father sold coconut water, I have seen all of this.”Reflecting on where he stands today, the actor added, “Today, of course, my life has moved beyond that. And I don’t even realise how big a thing privilege is. We tend to think privilege is only a positive word, that it only brings benefits. But that’s not true. With privilege comes greater responsibility.”