ishaan-khattar-s-homebound-bags-spot-on-oscar-shortlist

Ishaan Khatter-starrer "Homebound" has secured a coveted spot on the Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature.

 

Acclaimed as a poignant story of friendship and aspiration in rural India, the film is competing with 14 other films, including Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".

 

Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, “Homebound” has been directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles.

 

Johar celebrated the news by sharing the screenshot of the Academy's list that mentions "Homebound" in the international feature category.

 

The filmmaker said he was over the moon with the journey of "Homebound", which first premiered in the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes in May.

 

"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" he captioned the screenshot and addressed Ghaywan as the "star" in his stories. Johar said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was.

 

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"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...." Ghaywan celebrated the news by sharing Johar's screenshots.

 

The film is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's newspaper article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled (A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway).

 

Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is attached as an executive producer on the movie, which portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.

 

The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added Casting Oscars. Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on January 22, 2026.

 

Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars.