‘He’s a chameleon’: Karan Johar on Ishaan Khatter’s transformation from thirst trap in The Royals to raw emotion in Homebound

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Since its premiere, the show “The Royals,” featuring Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar, has been generating quite a buzz. Audiences have adored Ishaan’s portrayal of a laid-back Mahraja from Morpur, winning over their hearts in the process. Upcoming projects include “Homebound,” which was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 and received a standing ovation. Recently, Karan Johar praised Ishaan for his ability to transform, noting the stark contrast between his charismatic role in “The Royals” and the raw emotion he displays in “Homebound.

In an interview with Variety, filmmaker Karan Johar showers praise on actor Ishaan Khatter from his film Homebound. He stated, “Ishaan is a versatile actor. If you place him in royal settings, he’ll exude that captivating, attractive charm that currently has everyone smitten and labeled as a national crush.

Discussing the change in character portrayed in Homebound, the director remarked, “Place him in Homebound, and he’ll tear at your heartstrings.

Homebound made its debut at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 21st. Following the screening, it received a nine-minute standing ovation. The film was shown in the Un Certain Regard category, competing with movies like Eleanor the Great, My Father’s Shadow, Pillion, and Urchin during the event.

The day before the premiere, the Homebound team – comprising of Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Neeraj Ghaywan, and Karan Johar – graced the red carpet with elegance. Their stylish appearances quickly spread online for all the right reasons.

Previously, Ishaan Khatter shared on Instagram that he’s collaborating with Karan Johar and Dharma Productions once more following a gap of seven years, for the project titled “Homebound”.

In the caption, he stated, “Off to Cannes we go, affectionately known as ‘HOMEBOUND’. A movie that felt extraordinary from the moment it came into my world, and marked my toughest role yet. This is the essence of dreams – pure determination, resilience, empathy, and honesty. One of the most satisfying moments in my filmmaking adventure so far.

Simultaneously, in the series “The Royals,” Ishaan takes on the character of Aviraaj Singh, a prince. Following the death of his father, he ascends to the throne as Maharaja of Morpur. The story unfolds as he navigates through the ups and downs of preventing his palace from financial ruin and his romantic entanglements with Bhumi Pednekar.

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2025-05-22 12:52