Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound," India's official entry for the 98th Academy Awards, has been knocked out of the Oscar race after failing to secure a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the final list of nominees on Thursday, ending India's hopes for an award in this category.
"Homebound" was among the 15 films shortlisted for the award in December 2025. However, it did not make the cut for the final five. The nominated films in the Best International Feature Film category are: "The Secret Agent" from Brazil, "It Was Just an Accident" from France, "Sentimental Value" from Norway, "Sirat" from Spain and "The Voice of Hind Rajab" from Tunisia.
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, "Homebound" hit Indian theaters on September 26, 2025. The film features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles. It explores themes of trauma, redemption, and long-buried secrets through emotionally charged confrontations within a dysfunctional family during a lockdown-like crisis.
The film had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 21, where it received a nine-minute standing ovation.
"Homebound" is co-authored by Ghaywan and Sumit Roy, with Martin Scorsese as an Executive Producer. The film is produced by Dharma Productions and is based on a New York Times article by Basharat Peer from 2020.
The film tells the story of two childhood friends, Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), who dream of joining the police force. Janhvi Kapoor plays Chandan's classmate, Sudha.
Prior to the announcement, Karan Johar of Dharma Productions spoke about the financial investment required for an Oscar campaign. He mentioned that Adar Poonawalla, his business partner, viewed the campaign as an opportunity, regardless of the potential for profit or loss.
Only three Indian films have ever been nominated in the Best International Feature category: "Mother India" (1957), "Salaam Bombay!" (1988), and "Lagaan" (2001).
