Homebound Shortlisted for Oscars 2026: A Win for Indian Cinema

Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa’s Homebound has been shortlisted for the Oscars 2026, and this is nothing less than a win. The industry is very excited as congratulatory wishes are pouring in. Kiara Advani has also expressed her joy and pride. She congratulated everyone associated with the project. Taking to her Instagram stories, Kiara shared the poster and wrote, “Congratulations Team Homebound!!!" Earlier, Dharma Movies’ official Instagram page shared, “Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. We’re deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we’ve received from around the world." Take a look here: Homebound Shortlisted For Best International Feature Film At Academy Awards The International Feature Film shortlist features movies from across the globe, including Argentina’s Belén, Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Germany’s Sound of Falling, Iraq’s The President’s Cake, Japan’s Kokuho, Jordan’s All That’s Left of You, Norway’s Sentimental Value, Palestine’s Palestine 36, South Korea’s No Other Choice, Spain’s Sirât, Switzerland’s Late Shift, Taiwan’s Left-Handed Girl, Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, and India’s Homebound. Academy members from all branches participate in preliminary voting, which requires viewing the eligible films. For the final nomination round, members opting in must watch all 15 shortlisted films before casting their votes. Neeraj Ghaywan on the Story Behind Homebound Set in a northern Indian village, Homebound follows two childhood friends striving to pass the national police exam, a career path that could bring them dignity and stability. As they move closer to their goal, their deep bond is tested by disappointment and disillusionment. Director Neeraj Ghaywan explained the film’s origins: “Homebound started with this op-ed essay in The New York Times. It was a true story that happened in India, and it was a story of friendship and what happened to these friends during the journey [during] the pandemic… I wanted to use that as a base friendship, as a strong way to talk about our bigger concerns that the world is now grappling with, which is that what makes migrants leave their homes in rural India or across the world? What are the things that motivate them? It’s not just jobs, it’s not just money, it’s also existential." Kiara Advani’s work front