Mumbai, September 27, 2025 — Neeraj Ghaywan’s critically acclaimed film Homebound, India’s official submission for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, has opened to a modest but steady performance at the domestic box office.
Released nationwide on September 26, Homebound earned ₹30 lakh on its opening day, according to early estimates from Sacnilk.com. While the figures fall short of mainstream commercial benchmarks, industry analysts note that the film’s arthouse positioning and niche appeal were never expected to drive blockbuster numbers. The film’s second-day earnings showed a slight uptick, with ₹2 lakh added by midday, and further growth anticipated over the weekend.
Produced by Dharma Productions and directed by Ghaywan—renowned for his debut Masaan—Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. The narrative, inspired by journalist Basharat Peer’s reportage Taking Amrit Home, follows two childhood friends, Shoaib and Chandan, from a small town in India. As they prepare for police recruitment exams, they confront systemic caste and religious discrimination. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupts their lives, exposing deeper societal fault lines.
Janhvi Kapoor plays a PhD aspirant navigating her own set of challenges, while Khatter and Jethwa deliver emotionally resonant performances that have been widely praised. Critics have lauded the film’s realism, emotional depth, and social relevance. Filmfare rated it 5 out of 5, calling it “a hard-hitting portrayal of the marginalised” and commending the lead actors for their authentic portrayals.
Homebound premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a nine-minute standing ovation. It was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, earning accolades for its sensitive storytelling and global resonance.
Despite its slow commercial start, Homebound is being celebrated for its artistic merit and international recognition. With the Oscar campaign ahead, the film’s team—including producer Karan Johar and executive producer Martin Scorsese—will now focus on building momentum among global audiences and Academy voters.
As India’s official Oscar entry, Homebound represents a significant moment for socially conscious cinema and reaffirms Neeraj Ghaywan’s stature as a filmmaker who blends realism with emotional storytelling. The film continues to run in theatres across India, with expectations of a gradual rise in viewership driven by word-of-mouth and critical acclaim.
