India’s Oscar entry ‘Homebound’ moves closer to nomination with shortlist spot
Mumbai: Neeraj Ghaywan’s directorial Homebound, India’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards, has been shortlisted in the International Feature Film category, moving a step closer to an Oscar nomination.
Starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, Homebound is among the 15 films selected from 86 eligible countries and regions to advance to the next and final round of voting. The announcement was confirmed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on its official website.
According to AMPAS, the shortlisted films were chosen following active participation by Academy members in the preliminary voting round. In the nominations phase, members from all Academy branches who opt in are required to watch all 15 shortlisted films before casting their votes.
India’s contender stands alongside international titles such as Argentina's 'Belen', Brazil's 'The Secret Agent', France's 'It Was Just an Accident', Germany's 'Sound of Falling', among others.
Sharing the milestone, Dharma Productions, the film’s production banner, posted on Instagram, “Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. We’re deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we’ve received from around the world.”
Homebound follows the journey of childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), whose shared ambition of joining the police force shapes their lives amid friendship, duty, and the social pressures faced by young India. Janhvi Kapoor plays a key role, adding emotional depth to the narrative.
The film has enjoyed a strong international run. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes Film Festival 2025 and later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it won Second Runner-Up for the International Audience Choice Award.
Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta, the film is co-produced by Marijke deSouza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier, with Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar serving as Executive Producers.