Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, has been selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards. The announcement was made on Friday, September 19, by N Chandra in Kolkata.
Homebound tells the story of two childhood friends, Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), a Dalit, and Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter), a Muslim, from a small village in North India who dream of becoming police officers. They hope that this job will bring them the respect that they have been denied. The film portrays their aspirations and the struggles they face, including caste and religious biases, as they work towards their goal. Janhvi Kapoor also stars as their friend. As they get closer to their dream, pressure and other struggles create problems in their friendship.
The film is based on a New York Times article by Basharat Peer from 2020, originally titled "Taking Amrit Home" and later retitled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway". The story follows two young migrant workers in Surat who were caught in the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. The film captures the socio-political realities of contemporary India and the unprecedented displacement of migrant workers following the outbreak of COVID-19.
Homebound is produced by Dharma Productions and executive-produced by Martin Scorsese. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, where it received a standing ovation. It was also selected as the second runner-up in the International People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Neeraj Ghaywan expressed his gratitude and humility upon hearing the news, stating, "Rooted in the love for our land and our people, it carries the essence of the home we all share. To take our stories to the world and represent India at one of the biggest global stages for cinema is both humbling and a matter of pride, and for this I'm extremely grateful". Karan Johar, the producer, called the film "Ghaywan's labour of love" and hoped that it would "find a home in a million hearts across the world".
Homebound is scheduled to be released in Indian theaters on September 26, 2025. The film will compete with entries from over a hundred countries to get nominated for the Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.
Other films that were in contention for India's official entry included Telugu film Kannappa, Kuberaa (in Tamil and Telugu), and Anupam Kher-directed Tanvi the Great. Last year, Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies was chosen as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film.
