‘Homebound’ actor Shalini Vatsa reveals 'reading autobiographies written by Dalit women' for Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, Vishal Jethwa starrer

Actor Shalini Vatsa, who essays the role of Phool Kumari, Chandan’s mother, in Neeraj Ghaywan’s ‘Homebound’, recently spoke about the intense preparation that went into portraying the character with honesty and depth. The conversation took place just days before the 2026 Oscar nominations were announced, at a time when the film had already been selected as India’s official entry.In a conversation with Free Press Journal, Shalini Vatsa revealed that preparing for Phool Kumari involved extensive reading and detailed workshops that helped her step into the world of film. “There were workshop sessions on the script, the character, the story. I usually like to prepare by reading books and other material, academic and fiction, related to the theme and the story of a film.” For ‘Homebound’, she read Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s ‘Annihilation of Caste’, autobiographies written by Dalit women, and Maya Angelou’s autobiographical works. She also worked closely on dialect and pronunciation. “I also had to work on the specific diction for this film. I thank Shreedhar Dubey who worked with us on the diction.” When asked whether she anticipated ‘Homebound’ making it to the Oscars when she first signed the project, Shalini Vatsa made it clear that awards were never on her mind. “When I join the team of a film, my fundamental concern is regarding my character, and my preparation to play it with sincerity and responsibility and to delve into the script and live up to the director’s vision. No, I was not thinking about the Oscars or any other awards.”Vatsa also spoke at length about her admiration for director Neeraj Ghaywan and his filmography, which played a key role in her decision to come on board. “I have loved all his works from ‘Masaan’ to ‘Geeli Pucchi’, and some episodes directed by him in ‘Made in Heaven’. It was exciting to be invited to be a part of his next.”While 'Homebound' couldn't make it to the list, the movies that were nominated in the Best International Feature Film Category for the 98th Academy Awards are 'The Secret Agent', 'It Was Just An Accident', 'Sentimental Value', 'Sirat', and 'The Voice Of Hind Rajab'. The film's story revolves around two friends, Shoaib and Chandan, who take on the police recruitment exam, hoping that it will bring dignity to them while fighting caste discrimination in the society. But as they get closer to their objective, pressure and difficulties cause issues in their friendship. The film also showcases how they survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.The cast also includes Harshika Parmar, Shalini Vatsa, Chandan K Anand, and Vijay Vikram Singh. It was based on 'A Friendship, a Pandemic, and a Death Beside the Highway' by Basharat Peer. The 122-minute-long film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, while the movie was released in theaters on September 26, 2025.