Mumbai: Neeraj Ghaywan’s directorial Homebound, featuring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, has been chosen by the Film Federation of India (FFI) as India’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
A press conference was held in Mumbai on Monday, where Ishaan, Vishal, and Neeraj expressed their joy over the Oscar selection and reflected on their journey with the film.
“This is the film I am proudest of. Bhaut garv hai mujhe ispe. It’s a very significant film, and Neeraj bhai has made it with such depth and sincerity so it can resonate with a wider audience,” Ishaan said.
The film, which earlier premiered at Cannes 2025, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), is now scheduled for a theatrical release in India on September 26.
Speaking about the journey, Neeraj shared,
“Cannes, Toronto, Melbourne—each recognition was special, and the global acclaim meant a lot. But for me, bringing Homebound back to India is the biggest milestone. Nothing compares to that. We made this film with complete honesty and authenticity, and I truly hope audiences here connect with it when it releases on September 26.”
Homebound tells the story of two childhood friends from a small village in North India who aspire to secure police jobs, seeking the dignity they’ve long been denied. But as their dream draws closer, desperation threatens the friendship that binds them.
Vishal also recalled a piece of advice that shaped his performance.
“To prepare for this role, I followed a guru mantra shared by Aditya Chopra sir. When I first met him, he told me, ‘Surrender yourself completely to the director.’ That guidance stayed with me, and I applied it here too. When I met Neeraj sir, I had just one thought: he has invested so much into this film, and I wanted to honour that,” Vishal said.
