Did Janhvi Kapoor Rebuff Ishaan Khatter on the Cannes Red Carpet? Vishal Jethwa Defends the Actress

At the prestigious 2025 Cannes Film Festival, a moment involving Bollywood actors Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa attracted widespread attention online. A short video clip from the red carpet event went viral, sparking speculation among netizens about an alleged cold exchange between Janhvi and Ishaan. In the video, it appeared that Janhvi may have deliberately ignored Ishaan during a moment of interaction, leading some fans to wonder whether there was unresolved tension between the two former co-stars.

The speculation quickly gained traction, with several social media users commenting that Janhvi seemingly “snubbed” Ishaan during the event. As the conversation gained momentum, many began questioning the current state of their relationship, especially given their shared history. Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter had previously worked together in the 2018 film Dhadak and were rumoured to be romantically involved at the time, although neither confirmed the relationship publicly.

To address the growing chatter, Vishal Jethwa, their co-star in the film Homebound, stepped forward to clarify the situation. Speaking in an interview with Zoom TV, Jethwa categorically dismissed the speculation and defended Janhvi’s character and conduct at the event. He explained that the moment was completely misinterpreted and that there was no sign of disrespect from Janhvi’s side.

According to Jethwa, during that brief incident on the red carpet, he was struggling to understand a question that had been asked in French. Ishaan Khatter was helping him interpret the question, and at the same time, Janhvi was also trying to explain the same query. Because the situation was fast-paced and somewhat confusing, it may have appeared as though Janhvi was dismissing Ishaan, but Jethwa insisted that this was far from the truth.

He further added, “There is nothing like that. All three of us were trying to understand and respond in a difficult moment. Janhvi is a very sensible girl and can never do something so disrespectful.” He emphasized that there is absolutely no awkwardness or animosity between Janhvi and Ishaan, and that the narrative being built on social media was a result of misinterpretation based on a few seconds of footage.

This incident highlights how easily misunderstandings can arise in high-profile, high-pressure events like Cannes. With flashing cameras, multiple languages being spoken, and the world’s media watching every move, even the most innocent moments can be taken out of context and blown out of proportion.

Meanwhile, Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Karan Johar, had its grand premiere at Cannes. The film received critical acclaim and reportedly earned a nine-minute standing ovation at the festival. Janhvi, Ishaan, and Vishal are all seen in lead roles in the film, which explores themes of family, trauma, and resilience.

While the red carpet moment became a brief subject of controversy, Vishal Jethwa’s explanation has helped put the speculation to rest, reinforcing the importance of understanding the full context before jumping to conclusions.