“Homebound” has been officially announced as the country’s entry for the Best International Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film features notable performances from Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. According to reports from Outlook, “Homebound” triumphed over more than ten other films competing for the Oscars 2026 nomination.
Among the films reportedly considered for the prestigious slot was Abhishek Bachchan’s “I Want to Talk.” Also in the running was Anupam Kher’s “Tanvi The Great,” which was released in July 2025. This poignant movie centers on an autistic woman striving to fulfill her late father’s dream of saluting the tricolor at Siachen Glacier.
Additionally, “Homebound” surpassed Vivek Agnihotri’s “The Bengal Files,” securing its position as India’s official Oscars entry. Other contenders included Allu Arjun’s blockbuster “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” which did not make the final cut, and “Kesari: Chapter 2,” featuring Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan, released in April 2025.
Vishnu Manchu’s “Kannappa,” released in June 2025, was also in the mix but was ultimately not selected. Other notable films that were considered include “Superboys of Malegaon” and “Meta The Dazzling Girl,” the latter having recently won the Best Experimental Film Award at Cannes.
“Sambar Bonda” or “Cactus Pears,” which explores the struggles and humanity of queer love, and “Gandhi Tatha Chettu,” revolving around a young girl inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, were also part of this year’s selection process. As the nominations draw near, “Homebound” stands out as a strong representative of Indian cinema on the global stage.
Original Source: https://www.news18.com/photogallery/movies/bollywood/pushpa-2-to-the-bengal-files-homebound-beat-10-films-in-oscars-2026-race-ws-l-9585386.html
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-09-21 03:27:00
