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News Topical, Digital Desk : Every year, movie lovers and industry members alike await the announcement of India's film submission to the Oscars. Now, the film slated for the 2026 Oscars has been announced. Director Neeraj Ghaywan's film "Homebound" has been selected as India's official entry for the 2026 Oscars.
The film received nine minutes of applause at Cannes.
"Homebound," starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and received worldwide acclaim. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section, receiving a nine-minute standing ovation.
It won the second runner-up position in the International People's Choice Award at the recently held TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) 2025 and received a standing ovation there as well. Produced by Dharma Productions, the film is based on The New York Times article titled "Taking Amrit Home." It depicts caste and religious inequalities in India and how two friends struggle with them while trying to rebuild their lives. The climax also depicts the exodus of migrants during the lockdown.
Received a standing ovation in Toronto
"Homebound" also received a standing ovation in Toronto. The team celebrated the moment on social media and thanked everyone for the overwhelming response. Karan Johar, who co-produced the film with Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, also reshared the post on his Instagram Stories and expressed pride in the film's international journey.
What is the story of the film?
The 2-minute, 52-second trailer for "Homebound" begins with Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter (Chandan Kumar and Mohammed Shoaib Ali) arriving at a police recruitment helpline. The two best friends dream of joining the state police force and eventually meet Janhvi Kapoor's character, who, like them, is struggling to break free from the constraints of social inequality.
While Vishal and Ishaan's characters dare to dream big, society constantly tries to stop them. Yet, their relationship becomes their strength, giving them the courage to move forward. The trailer is heartwarming.
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