India has made its choice for the 98th Academy Awards, and it’s a bold one. Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound has been selected as the country’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars 2026. Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions with Martin Scorsese serving as executive producer, the film is already generating international buzz after its celebrated premieres at Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival.

The selection committee of the Film Federation of India (FFI), chaired by filmmaker N. Chandra, reviewed 24 films across languages and regions before settling on Homebound. 

A Crux, Not Just a Story

While the film is inspired by a New York Times essay, Homebound is not just about recounting events. Instead, it dives into what it means to chase identity in a world shaped by caste, religion, and sudden crisis. At its heart, it is a meditation on friendship, resilience, and systemic injustice, capturing how ordinary people navigate extraordinary challenges.

Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 lockdown, the film uses two characters’ journey as a lens to examine issues far larger than themselves. It is less about the road they travel and more about what that road symbolizes aspirations, inequalities, broken systems, and the hope that survives even in despair.

The Creative Force Behind the Film

Homebound has come together through a rare collaboration.

Neeraj Ghaywan directs with a sharp eye for social realism and emotional truth.

Martin Scorsese, a titan of world cinema, is attached as executive producer, providing guidance on the script and edit.

Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, along with Apoorva Mehta and Adar Poonawalla, backs the film, ensuring it reaches a global audience.

Performances by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa are being praised as raw and deeply affecting, while Janhvi Kapoor makes a strong impression in a supporting role that symbolizes education, hope, and resistance.

The film had its world premiere at Cannes 2025 in the Un Certain Regard section, receiving a nine-minute standing ovation. Later, at the Toronto International Film Festival, it was runner-up for the International People’s Choice Award, strong indicators that the film speaks across cultures.

Why Homebound Matters

India’s Oscar entries have often been criticized for being too insular or too commercial. Homebound feels different. It is contemporary, socially rooted, and artistically daring. What makes the film resonate is its humanism. It shows that friendship can endure division, that hope can outlast despair, and that even in the harshest journeys, people still dream of home. This universal truth is what might connect with the Academy’s voters.

As Homebound steps into the Oscars race, it carries not just the dreams of its characters but of Indian cinema itself. It offers the world a story that is as much about India today as it is about the timeless struggles of humanity.