Homebound has missed out on a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars. The last film from India that made it to the Oscars nominations was Aamir Khan’s Lagaan, back in 2002.
The films nominated in this category are The Secret Agent (Brazil); It Was Just an Accident (France); Sentimental Value (Norway); Sirât (Spain); The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
Produced by Dharma Productions’ Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Adar Poonawalla, Homebound is based on a New York Times article by Basharat Peer, which was published in 2020. The film follows the story of two friends – Shoaib and Chandan – who come from oppressed backgrounds, and struggle to make their place in a society that is plagued by discrimination on a systemic level. The story follows them through the COVID-19 lockdown when they lose their livelihood and are left in a lurch, finding ways to come back home.
In the past, Indian films that have had Oscar campaigns, have spoken about the expenses associated with such campaigns. Karan, in an earlier chat with Peeping Moon, said that funding an Oscar campaign was a “bottomless pit” and an “uphill task” as they don’t know the end result. “You have to employ publicists and travel and make noise and do media abroad and screenings abroad. But Adar said Karan, this is a great opportunity and a great film, let’s do everything in our capacity. Let’s not think of profit and loss on this one. Let’s think of passion over any monetary benefit. That’s what we did. It is not a money making exercise for us. It is about credibility, we will do other films for survival, but Homebound was always a passion project. There is no monetary game in that film,” he said.
A few months ago, journalist-turned-author Puja Changoiwala initiated legal action against Homebound alleging that the makers had plagiarised her 2021 novel of the same name. Dharma Productions responded to her allegations and called them “baseless and unfounded.” “The allegations of copyright infringement are baseless and unfounded, and Dharma Productions categorically denies the same. Homebound is an officially licensed adaptation inspired by the New York Times article by Basharat Peer, with all requisite rights lawfully acquired and due credit duly provided,” they told HT.
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