Homebound Oscars 2026 shortlist news as Neeraj Ghaywan’s film enters Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Homebound Oscars 2026 news has made Indian cinema proud as Neeraj Ghaywan’s film Homebound has been shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. This is a big step forward for the film, as it now stands among the top 15 movies selected from 86 countries and regions across the world. Only five films from this list will finally get an official Oscar nomination.
The announcement was shared by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on its official website. The Academy stated, “Fifteen films will advance to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards.” This shortlist was decided after active participation from Academy members during the preliminary voting round.
Dharma Productions, the production house behind Homebound, shared the good news on social media. The team thanked audiences globally and wrote, “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.”
Producer Karan Johar also expressed his happiness and pride in an emotional message. He wrote, “I am not sure I can articulate how proud, elated and over the moon I am with the journey of #HOMEBOUND… all of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography … thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true… from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film!!!!!!!!! Upwards and onwards……..”
Actor Vishal Jethwa, who plays Chandan Kumar in the film, called the moment emotional and unforgettable. He said, “This moment feels surreal and incredibly humbling. To see Homebound being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of.” He also added, “I want to sincerely thank Karan Johar sir for believing in this story and in us as artists his vision and backing gave Homebound the wings it needed. Neeraj Ghaywan sir’s sensitivity, honesty, and clarity as a filmmaker pushed me to explore emotional depths I had never touched before. Working under his direction has been nothing short of transformative,” and further said, “I also want to thank Ishaan Khatter, whose passion and commitment elevated every scene, we learned so much from each other on this journey. This recognition belongs to the entire team that poured their heart and soul into the film.”
Ishaan Khatter also celebrated the achievement by sharing the update on his Instagram stories, reacting with heart emojis to mark the special moment. His quiet but heartfelt reaction reflected the excitement of the entire team.
Homebound tells the story of two childhood friends, Shoaib and Chandan, who dream of joining the police force. The film focuses on friendship, ambition and the real-life pressures faced by young people in India. Apart from Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, the film also stars Janhvi Kapoor in an important role.
In the Oscars 2026 race, Homebound will compete with films from many countries, including Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Spain and others. The final nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on January 22, 2026. The Oscars ceremony is scheduled to be held on March 15, 2026, with Conan O’Brien returning as the host.
