Janhvi Kapoor earns praise at Cannes 2025 festival

Acclaimed director Neeraj Ghaywan’s latest film Homebound made a powerful debut at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, earning a thunderous nine-minute standing ovation. Headlined by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, the film also features a brief but impactful cameo by Janhvi Kapoor—one that Ghaywan believes will redefine how audiences perceive the young star.

Janhvi Kapoor’s true potential

In an interview with Variety on the sidelines of the festival, Ghaywan addressed the persistent criticism Janhvi Kapoor has faced since her debut, largely due to her background as the daughter of late actress Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor. 

“She’s been maligned publicly and heavily trolled,” he said. “But when people see this film and her true potential, they’ll wake up to see she’s really made of something else.”

While Janhvi’s screen time in Homebound is limited, Ghaywan emphasized that her presence carries emotional weight. 

To help her immerse in the film’s socially rooted themes, Ghaywan gifted her a copy of B.R. Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste during production. “She went into a rabbit hole trying to understand the glaring inequalities we live with side by side,” he noted, praising her willingness to engage with the film’s deeper messages.

The film, known for its intense exploration of identity and systemic injustice, appears to have struck a chord not only with audiences but also with Kapoor, whose role, though brief, may signal a turning point in her career. Ghaywan’s confidence in her performance suggests a more serious artistic chapter ahead for the actress.

Janhvi’s glamorous turn at Cannes 2025

Off-screen, Janhvi Kapoor made waves on the Cannes red carpet with her striking style choices that dominated fashion headlines. Dressed in a sculpted white gown by Indian couturier Gaurav Gupta for the film’s premiere, she paired her look with minimal jewelry and a bold, smoky eye—earning praise for blending high fashion with elegance.

Her Cannes 2025 photoshoots have since gone viral, showcasing her in a series of bold looks, including a custom sequined lehenga by Falguni Shane Peacock and a structured, off-shoulder black gown that paid homage to old-Hollywood glam. Each look underscored her growing status as both a fashion icon and a rising force in international cinema.

With critical praise from a director of Ghaywan’s caliber and a standout presence at one of cinema’s biggest stages, Janhvi Kapoor appears to be stepping into a new era—one where her talent, not just her lineage, does the talking.