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Vishal Jethwa on Oscars Miss: 'Homebound' Journey Still Extraordinary

Actor Vishal Jethwa expressed profound gratitude despite 'Homebound' not making the final Oscar nominations, emphasizing the honor of being shortlisted among 15 films from 86 global entries. He credited director Neeraj Ghaywan's vision and praised co-stars Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor as inspiring collaborators. The film's journey reinforced his belief in sincere, heartfelt storytelling. The final Oscar shortlist featured five international films, with 'Lagaan' remaining the last Indian nominee in the category from 2001.

Key Points: Vishal Jethwa Reacts to 'Homebound' Missing Oscar Nomination

  • Film shortlisted from 86 entries
  • Jethwa hails honest storytelling
  • Last Indian nominee was Lagaan in 2001
  • Gratitude expressed for director and co-stars
  • Five international films made final cut
2 min read

Vishal Jethwa on 'Homebound' missing final Oscars cut: Being shortlisted itself feels extraordinary

Actor Vishal Jethwa calls 'Homebound's' Oscars shortlist a humbling experience. The film, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, featured Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor.

Vishal Jethwa on 'Homebound' missing final Oscars cut: Being shortlisted itself feels extraordinary
"Being shortlisted among the final 15 films... already feels extraordinary. - Vishal Jethwa"

Mumbai, Jan 23

As "Homebound" failed to make it to the Oscars, actor Vishal Jethwa said that the film's journey remains extraordinary for him and added that being shortlisted among the final 15 films from 86 entries was itself a deeply humbling experience, especially given his modest beginnings.

Vishal told IANS: "While we didn't make it to the final nominations, being shortlisted among the final 15 films from 86 entries itself has been deeply humbling for me. I come from a very modest, local space, where dreams often feel distant, so to see Homebound travel this far and represent India on a global platform already feels extraordinary."

The actor said that this journey has strengthened his belief in honest storytelling and in cinema that comes from the heart.

"Every step of this process has been a reminder of how far belief, perseverance, and sincerity can take you. I'm deeply grateful to Neeraj Ghaywan for his vision, to Karan Johar for believing in this film, and to my co-actors Ishaan and Janhvi for being such inspiring collaborators."

Vishal said that he carries this experience with "pride and gratitude, and looks forward to what lies ahead."

The five films that made it to the final Oscar shortlist are The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirât (Spain), and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia).

Homebound, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan, also features Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor. The last Indian film to receive a nomination in this category was Aamir Khan's Lagaan in 2001. Last year, Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light was not selected as India's official entry but still earned international recognition.

It explores the experiences of two childhood friends portrayed by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa after they attempt to pass the national police exam.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
It's a bit disappointing, not gonna lie. We keep getting shortlisted but the final nomination eludes us since Lagaan. Our selection committee needs to be more strategic. What films are we even sending? 'Homebound' was good, but was it our absolute best? We need to send films with universal appeal.
A
Aman W
His humility is inspiring. "I come from a very modest, local space" – this hits home for so many of us. It shows that talent exists everywhere in India, not just in film families. Wishing him and the whole team all the best for the future. The film is still a winner in our eyes!
S
Sarah B
As someone who follows global cinema, the competition in the International Feature category is incredibly fierce. The fact that 'Homebound' made the shortlist of 15 is a huge testament to its quality. The final five selected are all powerhouses. This is still a moment of pride.
K
Karthik V
Neeraj Ghaywan is a brilliant director. After 'Masaan', he has a unique voice. The subject of police exams and friendship is so relatable to crores of Indian youth. Awards come and go, but creating cinema that resonates with your own people is the real victory. Jai ho! 🇮🇳
N
Nidhi U
The article mentions Payal Kapadia's film got international recognition outside the official entry route. Maybe we focus too much on the "official entry" tag. Good content finds its audience globally anyway. Let's just make more honest films like Vishal said, and the rest will follow. ✨

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