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 the one his mother often recalls. Preeti says, “When I saw that poster of Salaam Venky where my son is sleeping in Kajol’s bed, tears welled up in my eyes. Those actors who never paid money to watch their films, today my son is working with them. That feeling is very different from this.”
From surviving some of life’s toughest phases together to now sharing moments of joy, laughter and pride, Vishal Jethwa and his mother Preeti Jethwa’s journey is one built on resilience, sacrifice and unconditional love.
I try to make Mother’s Day extra special: Vishal 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 ki Mother’s Day par aur thoda zyada celebrate karna chahiye. 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.”
Vishal and Preeti Jethwa
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. Tab hum masti mein karte the.” 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. Ghar bohot mushkil se chalta tha. I worked as a caterer, sold sanitary pads, undergarments and saris. I had taken a vow 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 elder son of the house, you have to take responsibility.’ I didn’t fully understand it then, but gradually I realized that if we don’t look after each other, who will?”
Vishal Jethwa
Vishal’s biggest strength is his patience & perseverance: PreetiPreeti 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 were times when there were a lot of auditions and I once told him that I was not going to go. 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 is he 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 takes the decision and acts on it. Sometimes, I struggle to make decisions, but mummy 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, ‘Mummy’s ab raajyog chaalu ho gaya hai.’ 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.”
