From Cannes to Toronto, and soon in Indian theatres, Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound has had an illustrious journey. Now, the Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa-starrer has a new destination — the Academy Awards 2026. On Friday evening, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced it as India’s official entry to the Oscars.
Sumit Roy and Neeraj Ghaywan
Minutes after the announcement, mid-day reached out to screenwriter Sumit Roy, who, along with Ghaywan, adapted screenwriter-journalist Basharat Peer’s 2020 The New York Times article for the screen. An elated Roy credited his director for shedding light on the lives of the less privileged by telling the true story of a deep friendship in the face of social barriers and pandemic-induced lockdown. He said, “It’s validation for the process of utter devotion and integrity with which Neeraj has made this film. [He] keeps hope alive in [the brand of] cinema that talks of the lives of the marginalised with empathy, something the world needs more of.”
This comes as the latest honour for Homebound, which got a seal of approval from Martin Scorsese, who serves as one of the executive producers. Firdausul Hasan, president, FFI, said that the movie ticked all the boxes, making it the perfect choice to represent Indian cinema. “A film should talk about our country. It is not only the content; the music and technical aspects are also important. There are a lot of things that you have to take into consideration. Homebound also got a standing ovation at Cannes.”
