NEERAJ GHAYWAN’S 'HOMEBOUND' MAKES OSCAR SHORTLIST

The Cannes-lauded drama charts an extraordinary global journey as it earns a place on the Academy’s Best International Feature shortlist

Neeraj Ghaywan’s much-acclaimed film Homebound has been shortlisted in the Best International Feature category at the Oscars, placing it among 15 films from across the world vying for a nomination at the 98th Academy Awards. The recognition marks a significant milestone for the film, which first premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival in May and has since continued to gather international acclaim.

Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, Homebound will compete alongside notable international titles including Argentina’s Belén, Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Germany’s Sound of Falling, and Iraq’s The President’s Cake. The shortlist also features films from Japan, Jordan, Norway, Palestine, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan and Tunisia, underscoring the diversity and strength of global cinema this year.

Johar, visibly moved by the achievement, shared the official Oscars shortlist on social media, writing, “We made the shortlist!… Way to go team Homebound!” In subsequent posts, he described himself as “proud, elated and over the moon,” calling the film a defining addition to Dharma Productions’ filmography.“All of us at @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography… from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist, this has been such an overwhelming journey,” he wrote, crediting Ghaywan for turning long-held dreams into reality.

A screenshot from Karan Johar's Insta

Director Neeraj Ghaywan, whose earlier work Masaan also earned global recognition, celebrated the moment by resharing Johar’s posts, acknowledging the collective effort behind the film’s success.

Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles and is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer’s New York Times article Taking Amrit Home (also titled A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway). The film poignantly explores the enduring childhood bond between a Muslim and a Dalit man as they pursue a police job—seen as a gateway to dignity and social acceptance long denied to them because of their surnames.

Adding further weight to the project, legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese is attached as an executive producer, reinforcing the film’s global stature and artistic credibility.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced shortlists across 12 categories, including the newly introduced Casting Oscar. Official nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be revealed on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

The Oscars ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, with the event broadcast live on ABC and across more than 200 territories worldwide. As Homebound continues its remarkable ascent, its Oscar shortlist recognition stands as a powerful testament to Indian cinema’s growing resonance on the world stage.