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India's Oscar Hopes Dashed as 'Homebound' Misses Final Nomination List

India's official Oscar submission, 'Homebound', did not receive a nomination for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. The film had been shortlisted, making it the fifth Indian film in history to achieve that milestone. It premiered at major festivals like Cannes and Toronto, garnering significant critical praise. The final nominees included films from Argentina, Brazil, France, Palestine, and Spain.

Key Points: India's 'Homebound' Fails to Secure Oscar Nomination

  • Film was official Indian entry
  • Was shortlisted among 15 films
  • Fifth Indian film ever shortlisted
  • Received global festival acclaim
  • Absent from final five nominees
2 min read

Academy Awards 2026: India's official entry 'Homebound' fails to secure spot in Oscar nominations

India's official Oscar entry 'Homebound' was not nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, ending its campaign.

"bringing a silent end to its campaign - Article"

Los Angeles, January 22

India's official Oscar entry 'Homebound' has failed to secure a nomination at the 98th Academy Awards, bringing a silent end to its campaign. The film, which had been considered a strong contender amid early buzz and much critical acclaim, was absent from the final list of nominees announced on Thursday.

Earlier, 'Homebound' was shortlisted under the International Feature Film category at the upcoming Oscars alongside entries from Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Norway, Palestine, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Tunisia.

Nominated for the coveted trophy under International Feature Film are 'The Secret Agent', 'It Was Just An Accident', 'Sentimental Value', 'Sirat', and 'The Voice of Hind Rajab'.

'Homebound' has received significant global acclaim, including premieres at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and the Melbourne International Film Festival.

With its Oscar shortlist, 'Homebound' also reached a rare milestone, becoming the fifth Indian film to be shortlisted for Best International Feature Film in the Academy Awards' 98-year history.

Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa starrer 'Homebound' was among the 15 films that have become eligible for the final nominations.

The film follows childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), whose shared dream of joining the police force shapes their lives, with Janhvi Kapoor adding emotional depth to a story grounded in friendship, duty, and the pressures facing young India.

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta, and co-produced by Marijke deSouza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier, with Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar serving as Executive Producers.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Why do we keep seeking validation from the West? The film was brilliant and won hearts at Cannes and TIFF. That's more than enough. Our audience's love is the real award. Jai Hind!
A
Aman W
Respectfully, maybe the campaign strategy was off? Getting to the shortlist is half the battle. The selection committee needs to understand what kind of stories the Academy voters connect with. It's a learning curve.
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Sarah B
Saw it at TIFF. It was a powerful story about friendship and ambition. The performances by Ishaan and Vishal were incredible. Awards don't define a film's impact. Congrats to the whole team on the global acclaim! 👏
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Karthik V
Fifth Indian film ever to be shortlisted! That's the headline we should focus on. The journey is important. Neeraj Ghaywan is a fantastic director and this film has put Indian cinema on the global map yet again. Proud!
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Nisha Z
The subject of two friends, one dream, and the pressures of modern India... it's so relatable. Maybe it was too nuanced for the Oscar voters. But for us, it's a winner. Can't wait to see what this team does next!

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