Homebound, a 2025 Hindi-language drama directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, has been announced as India’s official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra under Dharma Productions, the film has garnered praise for its powerful storytelling and nuanced performances.
Homebound: Cast
The film features a strong ensemble cast:
- Vishal Jethwa as Chandan Kumar
- Ishaan Khatter as Mohammed Shoaib Ali
- Janhvi Kapoor as Sudha Bharti
- Harshika Parmar as Vaishali, Chandan’s sister
- Shalini Vatsa as Phool, Chandan’s mother
- Chandan K Anand as Haroon Nawaz
- Vijay Vikram Singh
- Yogendra Vikram Singh as Arjun Mishra
- Pankaj Dubey as Shoaib’s father
- Shreedhar Dubey as Vikas Tripathi
- Tushar Phulke
Homebound: Plot
Homebound follows the story of two childhood friends from a small village in North India Chandan and Shoaib who dream of becoming police officers.
For them, the job represents dignity, respect, and a chance to rise above the limitations imposed by their backgrounds. However, as they inch closer to realizing their ambition, the weight of expectations, social pressures, and personal struggles begin to strain their friendship.
The film explores themes of ambition, loyalty, and the price of dreams in a deeply rooted socio-political landscape.With its layered narrative and compelling direction, Homebound is expected to make a strong impression on the global stage as it represents India at the Oscars.
