Ishaan Khatter Opens Up on His Unique Hurdle in Bollywood

Actor Ishaan Khatter, brother to Shahid Kapoor, has been basking in the glory of his international debut, The Perfect Couple, streaming on Netflix. Starring alongside Nicole Kidman, Ishaan’s latest project marks a significant milestone in his six-year journey as an actor.

In a recent interview, Ishaan opened up about his passion for quality storytelling and his unwavering ambition. He revealed that his search for meaningful projects knows no geographical boundaries. However, he also discussed a persistent challenge he faces in Bollywood: typecasting due to his youthful appearance. "People often tell me I look very young," Ishaan admitted with a touch of humor.

Ishaan's journey with international projects began with acclaimed films like Beyond the Clouds by Majid Majidi and Mira Nair's A Suitable Boy. He then established himself in Bollywood with his debut alongside Janhvi Kapoor in Dhadak. Now, with Hollywood conquered, Ishaan makes it clear that his goal isn't confined to just one industry.

Ishaan, on exploring various roles across different languages and industries, says

I have never been overly strategized. I’ve also largely been lucky to have such opportunities. I have only been six years into my career and have had wonderful opportunities. I have always strived for my work to be diverse; I was never attached to making a name in any one particular industry. Even now, when I am asked if I want to work more in the West or here, my honest answer is wherever the good work is. I am going to try to make the most of the opportunities that I receive and do justice to them. At the moment, I am enjoying this because I think it is a blessing that I got a start that one would idealize and hope to have

- Ishan Khatter

He further added, "When I started, I was 21. For the longest time, the most consistent feedback I would get was that I looked very young. For better or for worse, we don’t write a lot of complex and layered roles for young faces and young actors here. So, I was very fortunate that I got to start with the likes of Majid Majidi and Mira (Nair) di two or three years down the line.”