Homebound is India's official entry for the Oscars 2026 in the Best International Feature category. It is directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Dharma Productions. Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor have headlined it.
The film, upon its Cannes screening, was commended for its "sensitive and nuanced exploration of complex social issues like caste and religious discrimination in contemporary India". A critic said that the film gives a "voice to the marginalized and asks the audience to look closer with empathy at what they might be conditioned to ignore".
The story of Homebound is based on a real-life media article.
Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who served as an executive producer, also praised Homebound, calling it a "beautifully crafted film that's a significant contribution to Indian Cinema." It is possible that Scorsese's association with the project played a role in it being seen as a potential Oscar winner by the Indian Oscar jury.
