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After the celebratory moments that RRR and The Elephant Whisperers delivered in recent years — milestones that placed Indian cinema firmly in the global spotlight — expectations were understandably high this year. That optimism only grew when Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound made it to the top-15 shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars, putting it just one step away from a final nomination.
However, when the 98th Academy Awards nominations were announced on January 22, Homebound failed to make it into the final list of five films, leaving many Indian film lovers disappointed. The news came as a blow. Yet amid the heartbreak, producer Karan Johar made sure to publicly stand by the film’s director, Neeraj Ghaywan.
Neeraj Ghaywan’s Instagram Stories.
Soon after the nominations were revealed, Karan took to his Instagram Stories, sharing a collage from Homebound along with a heartfelt message: “Proud! Love you Neeraj Ghaywan for allowing us to bask in your light!”
Neeraj Ghaywan was quick to respond, resharing Karan’s post and writing, “Thank you Karan Johar! You have been an absolute rock. Couldn’t have come this far without you. Love you!”
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Social media, meanwhile, was flooded with reactions from audiences who had been rooting for Homebound. One user wrote, “Sadly, no Oscar nomination for Homebound. It deserved to make the cut.” Another commented poetically, “Homebound, you were bigger than the whole sky.” Several others expressed disbelief, with one post reading, “Really shocking that Homebound did not make it to the final selection. The film stirred emotions and hearts globally. Remember the standing ovation at festivals.”
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, Homebound was India’s official entry to the Oscars 2026.
