Vishal Jethwa opened up about speaking Hindi globally, while promoting his film Homebound, India’s official Oscar entry.

During a recent chat, the 31-year-old actor shared, speaking Hindi abroad gives him confidence and a sense of belonging.

In an interview with HT, the star recalled making filmmaker Martin Scorsese say “Namaste” during one of their meetings, calling it a simple way to carry Indian culture forward.

He told the host, he understood the fact that language is just a tool, and comfort matters more than perception, as he believes there’s no reason to hesitate or be ashamed of speaking Hindi, in India or anywhere.

Moreover, he pointed out, fluency in Hindi is essential for working in the Hindi film industry. “You may not grow up with it,” he said, “but if you work in it, you must learn it—there’s no compromise.”

Homebound follows two childhood friends from a small Indian village who dream of becoming police officers to earn respect and dignity. As ambition and pressure rise, their bond is tested in unexpected ways.

Apart from Vishal, the lead cast includes Shahid Kapoor's brother Ishaan Khatter, and late Sri Devi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor, alongside Reem Shaikh, Harshika Parmar, and Shalini Vatsa in supporting roles.