Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa, has been selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. The announcement was made on Friday in Kolkata by Film Federation of India president Firdausul Hasan.
Homebound revolves around two childhood friends from a North Indian village who aspire to secure police jobs, hoping to escape a life of indignity. As they get closer to their goal, their bond is tested by desperation and personal conflict. The film is inspired by Basharat Peer's essay, "Taking Amrit Home" (later retitled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway"), which was published in the New York Times in 2020.
The selection committee, consisting of 12 members including producers, directors, writers, editors, and journalists, had a difficult task choosing from 24 films in various languages. According to chairperson N Chandra, the committee wasn't acting as judges but as "coaches" searching for impactful films.
Homebound premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category in May 2025, receiving a nine-minute standing ovation. The film also won Best Film and Best Director awards at the International Film Festival of Melbourne in August. It recently secured the second runner-up position in the People's Choice International category at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The film marks Ghaywan's return to directing after almost a decade. Homebound is produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla. Karan Johar called Homebound a "labor of love". Ghaywan expressed humility and pride in representing India on a global stage. Martin Scorsese is an executive producer for the film.
Other films considered for India's Oscar entry included Tanvi: The Great (Hindi), The Bengali Files (Hindi), Pushpa 2 (Telugu), Kannappa (Telugu), Jugnuma (Hindi), Kesari Chapter 2 (Hindi), and Phule (Hindi). Laapataa Ladies was India's entry in 2024 but did not make the shortlist.
The 98th Academy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on March 15, 2026. Nominations will be announced on January 22, 2026. Homebound is scheduled for theatrical release in India on September 26, 2025.
