India's official entry for the 98th Academy Awards, "Homebound," has failed to secure a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category. The film, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, was initially shortlisted for the award but did not make it to the final list of nominees.

The Academy announced the final nominations on January 22, 2026, revealing the five films that will compete for the coveted Oscar. These include "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.

"Homebound" had garnered significant attention and critical acclaim, premiering at prestigious film festivals such as Cannes, Toronto, and Melbourne. The film was co-written by Sumit Roy and based on a New York Times article by Basharat Peer. It tells the story of two childhood friends, Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), who dream of joining the police force. Janhvi Kapoor plays Sudha, an inspiring classmate who encourages Chandan to pursue higher studies.

The film's journey included a world premiere in the 'Un Certain Regard' section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it reportedly received a nine-minute standing ovation. Being shortlisted for the Oscars placed "Homebound" among the top contenders and increased its visibility on the global stage.

Despite not securing a nomination, "Homebound" achieved a rare milestone by becoming the fifth Indian film to be shortlisted for Best International Feature Film in the Academy Awards' 98-year history. Previous Indian films to be nominated in this category include "Mother India" (1958) which lost by one vote, "Salaam Bombay" (1989), and "Lagaan" (2002). "Last Film Show" (Chhello Show) was shortlisted in 2023 but did not receive a nomination.

The final winners in all categories will be announced on March 15, 2026, at the Oscar award ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.