Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa on Homebound, India’s Oscar Entry: An Urgent Call to Awaken Our Humanity

Neeraj Ghaywan’s second feature film, Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, has been officially selected as India’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars 2026. Released in theatres on September 26, the film has already begun making waves with its powerful storytelling and social message. 

ishaan Khatter expressed his pride, saying, “I’m really proud that this film is representing India, more so because of the message it carries. It has a very subliminal message but it is a film that almost urges humanity, compassion and understanding in the viewer.”

Describing the film’s direct impact on audiences, Ishaan added, “It’s an urgent call to action for the dormant humanity in us to come alive and acknowledge certain harsh realities that we are living amidst.”

He further elaborated on the film’s focus on marginalized communities and migrants, groups often overlooked or reduced to mere statistics in society. “When we read stories about people, be it marginalized communities or migrants... people in our society who are easy to overlook because we look at them in statistics and numbers, somehow it makes it easier for us to feel sorry and forget. Our attempt was to zoom in on the lives of two such people and humanise them. To show you the differences and appeal to your common humanity. We connected with them,” said Ishaan, who plays Mohammed Shoaib Ali in the film.

Homebound is being hailed as a socially relevant film that challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and inspires compassion through intimate storytelling. Its Oscar nomination reflects the growing global recognition of India’s nuanced cinema addressing critical social issues.