I'm a Child of a Mixed-Faith Marriage": Ishaan Khatter on Religion, Family & Films

Khatter, born to actor Neelima Azeem and brother to Shahid Kapoor, calls Homebound “a film that stirs something within people.” He shares how visiting Barabanki, meeting real families, and understanding their struggles shaped his performance. He describes the story not as an argument but a “conversation about humanity.”

Reflecting on his mixed-faith upbringing, Ishaan says, “I was born in a mixed-faith household—that to me is my idea of my country.” He believes religion should unite, not divide, and associates faith with spirituality rather than politics. He also speaks about being raised by a single mother, calling her “superhuman” for balancing art, motherhood, and survival.

From assisting on Udta Punjab to acting alongside Nicole Kidman in The Perfect Couple, Ishaan discusses the privilege, persistence, and grit that shaped his career. Despite being part of a film family, he emphasizes self-discovery and independence: “Access is privilege, but survival depends on your choices.”

Concluding the conversation, Barkha Dutt notes that Homebound reminds us that “what keeps us together is always greater than what divides us.” Ishaan agrees — his life, faith, and art all echo that belief.