Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s critically praised drama Homebound has fallen short of securing a nomination at the Oscars 2026, missing out in the Best International Feature Film category.
The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced in Los Angeles on Thursday.
While Homebound had made it to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ shortlist of 15 films in the category, it did not progress to the final list of five nominees.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, the Hindi-language film had drawn international attention during its festival circuit run.
It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival in May last year and went on to receive positive responses from critics.
Inspired by journalist Basharat Peer’s New York Times article Taking Amrit Home, the film features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles.
The story follows two childhood friends — a Muslim and a Dalit — who dream of joining the police force in their quest for dignity and social acceptance, long denied to them due to entrenched caste and religious identities.
ALSO READ: India skips signing of Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as New Delhi weighs implications
Renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese is associated with the project as an executive producer.
The films that ultimately secured nominations in the Best International Feature Film category are Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Norway’s Sentimental Value, Spain’s Sirat, and Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab.
India has historically had limited success in the category. Only three Indian films — Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Lagaan (2001) — have reached the final nomination stage, though none managed to win the award.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
