Hindi Drama ‘Homebound’ Selected as India’s Official Entry for 98th Oscars.

In September 2025, the Hindi-language drama Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Karan Johar, was officially selected as India’s entry for the Best International Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars).

      - The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection in Kolkata, West Bengal, with a 14-member jury chaired by filmmaker N. Chandra.

      - Homebound is inspired by Basharat Peer's 2020 New York Times essay “Taking Amrit Home”. The film narrates the journey of two friends from rural North India seeking police jobs to overcome caste and communal barriers.

      - It depicts their foot journey from Surat, Gujarat to Uttar Pradesh during the early COVID-19 lockdown, highlighting resilience amid adversity.

Main Point :-   (i) The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in pivotal roles. The actors’ performances were critically acclaimed for their authenticity and emotional depth, contributing to the film’s strong festival reception.

      (ii) Homebound premiered at Cannes 2025 in the Un Certain Regard section, receiving a nine-minute standing ovation. It also secured second runner-up in the People’s Choice category at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2025), marking significant global appreciation.

(iii) The film won both Best Film and Best Director at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM 2025). These recognitions underscore its artistic excellence and the growing prominence of Hindi-language cinema on international platforms.