"Homebound," India's official entry for the 2026 Oscars, starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, has collected approximately ₹80 lakh in its first two days at the domestic box office. Early estimates indicate that the film earned ₹30 lakh on its opening day and ₹50 lakh on the second day.
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, "Homebound" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is inspired by Basharat Peer's New York Times article, "Taking Amrit Home". It portrays the friendship between Chandan, a Dalit (played by Vishal Jethwa), and Shoaib, a Muslim (played by Ishaan Khatter), as they strive to join the police force. Their dream is challenged by societal prejudice related to caste and religion. Janhvi Kapoor also stars in the film.
Despite the positive reviews and Ghaywan's critical acclaim, the film has seen a low audience turnout. Mint's review suggests the film's "constant misfortunes and somber tone" may limit its appeal to mainstream viewers.
The opening numbers are significantly lower than those of previous films featuring Khatter and Kapoor. Their debut film, "Dhadak," had a strong opening day with ₹8.71 crore. Vishal Jethwa's earlier film, "Salaam Venky," opened at ₹45 lakh.
"Homebound" has garnered praise for its compelling story, outstanding performances, and artistic direction. The film documents the socio-political realities of contemporary India and captures the displacement of migrant workers following the COVID-19 outbreak. It explores themes of friendship, caste discrimination, and the struggles of migrant workers during the pandemic.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared "Homebound" for release after requesting 11 modifications, including trimming 77 seconds of footage. The film's runtime is now 122 minutes.
"Homebound" is produced by Dharma Productions, with Martin Scorsese serving as executive producer. Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla are also backing the project.
Industry experts suggest that the film's limited mass appeal, slow narrative, and competition from other films may be contributing to its poor box office performance. Some reports suggest "Homebound" may be released on Netflix around November 2025.
Despite the slow start, there is hope that positive word-of-mouth may boost the film's performance in the coming days.
