Mumbai | 22 January 2026

All eyes were on India’s official Oscar entry Homebound as the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on Thursday morning. However, the film directed by Neeraj Ghaywan did not make it to the final list of five nominees in the Best International Feature category, ending India’s hopes in this section for this year.

With this, India remains with only three films ever nominated in the category—earlier known as Best Foreign Language Film. These include Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988), and Lagaan (2001). Despite Homebound being shortlisted among the final 15 films, it could not progress further. The nominated films this year are Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Norway’s Sentimental Value, Spain’s Sirât, and Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab.

Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, and tells the story of childhood friends Shoaib and Chandan, whose shared dream of joining the police force defines their journey. The film explores friendship, responsibility, and the emotional struggles of young people in modern India. Janhvi Kapoor’s role adds emotional depth, while the bond between the two male leads remains at the heart of the narrative.

The film premiered on Netflix on November 21 and has earned praise at several international film festivals. Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, with co-producers Marijke deSouza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier, the project also lists Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar as Executive Producers. An excerpt from the HT review stated, “Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter bring vulnerability to their roles, their chemistry as childhood friends fully convincing. Ishaan’s emotional breakdown hits hard in one scene, while Vishal’s turn in the climax lingers long after.” The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 16.

India’s Homebound Misses Oscar Nomination Despite Strong Run

India’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards, Homebound, did not make it to the final list of five films in the Best International Feature category. The film, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, was widely expected to make a strong impact but fell short when the nominations were announced on Thursday.

Only three Indian films have ever received nominations in this category—Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988), and Lagaan (2001). This year, the nominees include Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Norway’s Sentimental Value, Spain’s Sirât, and Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab.

Homebound follows childhood friends Shoaib and Chandan, played by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, who dream of joining the police force. Janhvi Kapoor adds emotional depth to the story, which explores friendship, duty, and the pressures faced by young people in India. The film was released on Netflix on November 21 and has received major praise across film festivals and award shows.

The film’s producers include Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, with Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar as executive producers. A HT review praised the performances, saying “Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter bring vulnerability to their roles, their chemistry as childhood friends fully convincing.” The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 16.