The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced today, and unfortunately, India’s official entry, Homebound, did not make it to the Best International Feature Film category. The Neeraj Ghaywan directorial starred Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. The films that secured the Best International Feature Film nominations this year include The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just An Accident (France), Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirat (Spain), and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia).
After the announcement, producer Karan Johar took to social media to share a collage of several stills from the film and wrote, “Proud!!!! Love you @neerajghaywan for allowing us to bask in your light! #homebound” Neeraj Ghaywan replied, “Thank you, @karanjohar! You have been an absolute rock. Couldn’t have come this far without you. Love you!”
Needless to say, Indian netizens were also disheartened with the snub and took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their opinions. One tweet read, “Really sad #Homebound didn’t get picked. #Sirat is brilliant. I’m glad this was reached.”
Another netizen commented, “HOMEBOUND SNUBBED FR” “Homebound (broken heart emoji) until some day,” read a different comment.
HOMEBOUND SNUBBED FR https://t.co/LAhamKEPRP
— ish (vsa 4 eva) (@iksitaara) January 22, 2026
However, supporting the film’s journey so far, another netizen added, “Competition is tough this time. To even reach the top 15 list is an achievement for homebound.”
Take a look at how people are reacting on social media:
#Homebound didn’t make it to the final list. https://t.co/0RX0SNPZbu
— Kaveri 🇮🇳 (@ikaveri) January 22, 2026
#Homebound didn’t make it to the final list. https://t.co/0RX0SNPZbu
— Kaveri 🇮🇳 (@ikaveri) January 22, 2026
The film is inspired by Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times article and was released in India on September 26, 2025. It follows childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan) and Chandan (Vishal), whose shared dream of joining the police force shapes their lives, with Janhvi adding emotional depth to a story grounded in friendship, duty, and the pressures facing young India.
It has been produced by Dharma Productions, with American filmmaker Martin Scorsese serving as an Executive Producer. Despite the Oscar disappointment, Homebound continues to be celebrated for its heartfelt performances, portrayal of prevailing issues and its narrative.
Homebound is currently streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: Karan Johar Celebrates Homebound Oscar Shortlist And Expresses Gratitude To The Team
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