Mumbai: India’s film Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and featuring Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa has been chosen as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026. The selection was announced by the Film Federation of India, with chairperson N. Chandra confirming the film was picked from 24 submissions across different Indian languages.
The film, which drew critical acclaim at both the Cannes Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, tells the story of two childhood friends one Dalit, one Muslim who aspire to become police officers, facing caste and social discrimination along the way. It is set to release in Indian theatres on September 26, 2025.
Ishaan Khatter, responding to the announcement on social media, wrote that Homebound is “one of the proudest projects” of his career. He said “some films are much bigger than us,” and called it an honour to be part of a work so deeply humane in a time many consider isolated. Janhvi Kapoor similarly expressed that Homebound has been “nothing short of a dream.” She reflected on the meaningfulness of every part of the film’s creation from the journey to the people involved and said that witnessing the process, for her, has been a reward in itself. She also emphasized that the film and its journey are fundamentally about hope.
Producers and the creative team have also shared in the pride. Karan Johar called the moment “a pinch-me moment I’ll never forget,” while Neeraj Ghaywan described the selection as both humbling and an act of representation, rooted in stories of India and its people.
With Homebound now heading toward Oscars contention, the film’s strong social themes, heartfelt performances, and emotional resonance have made it a standout. For audiences in India, the theatrical release date remains September 26.
