Some relationships are shaped not just by blood ties, but by struggles and sacrifices that leave lasting imprints on people's lives. Before Vishal Jethwa made his mark with projects like Mardaani, Salaam Venky, and Homebound, there was a woman quietly holding everything together: his mother, Preeti Jethwa. From working as a caterer to selling sanitary pads, undergarments, and saris after her husband's passing, her focus remained singular: ensuring her children received the education and opportunities that she never had.
For Vishal, the moment that captures her journey most vividly is one his mother often recalls. Preeti says, “When I saw that poster of Salaam Venky where my son is sleeping in Kajol's lap, tears came to my eyes. The actors whose films we could never afford to watch, today my son is working with them. That feeling was very different.”
Vishal Makes Mother's Day Extra Special
Speaking about his bond with his mother and how Mother's Day has evolved over the years, Vishal says, “I have always believed that I don't need just one day to celebrate my mother. I love and respect her every day. But now I feel that on Mother's Day, I should celebrate a little more. It may not be grand, but I try to make the day extra special by planning surprises for her. This year I won't be able to spend Mother's Day with her because my shoot wraps up on May 12, but I've still planned something special for her.”
The Initial Struggles
For Vishal, making his mother feel special today is deeply tied to the memories of the life they once lived in Mumbai. Recalling his humble beginnings and early years, he says, “I was very young when my father sold coconut water. He also sold groundnuts outside bars, and I would help him pack them. I still remember sitting in our room making those packets. We did it playfully.”
Life changed drastically after his father suffered a heart attack and passed away in 2008, leaving the family to navigate severe financial struggles. Preeti recalls, “My husband and I had come to Mumbai from Gujarat with just Rs 100 that he borrowed from my mother. We were financially very weak. I wasn't educated, so my husband taught me embroidery and machine work. When he passed away, there was no support system. Running the house was very difficult. I worked as a caterer, sold sanitary pads, undergarments, and saris. I had decided that my children would not work in any shop for money. I wanted them to study and become what they wished to.”
Responsibility, too, came early for Vishal. He says, “After my father passed away, people would tell me, 'Now you are the eldest son of the house, you have to take responsibility.' I didn't fully understand it then, but gradually I realised that if we don't look after each other, who will?”
Vishal's Biggest Strength: Patience and Perseverance
Preeti remembers there was also a phase when repeated auditions and rejections made her worry for her son. She says proudly, “Vishal's biggest strength is his patience and perseverance. There was a time when there were many auditions, and I told him just once to let it go if it wasn't happening. He would always tell me, 'I will do it, everything will happen.' People around us would question his career choice, saying, 'What is there in acting? Who does he know in the industry?' But he proved everyone wrong.”
Now I Want My Mother to Enjoy Life and Stay Stress-Free
The actor admits his understanding of his mother's sacrifices deepened only after he began studying acting. He says, “My guru, Shoaib Khan sir, taught me many life lessons, and that's when I truly understood the value of a mother and the sacrifices my mom made for us.”
One of the biggest qualities Vishal wishes to inherit from his mother is her ability to take decisions and act on them fearlessly. He says, “She makes a decision and works on it. Sometimes, I struggle to make decisions, but my mother has always been clear and action-oriented.”
Today, his biggest goal is to give his mother the comfort she once sacrificed for him. “I want her to travel comfortably, enjoy life, and stay stress-free. We tease her, 'Mom's royal phase has now begun.' After everything she has gone through, she deserves to enjoy every bit of her life,” he says, adding, “My mother has always been a fighter, and now I want her to live like a queen.”
