Homebound In Oscars 2026: Vishal Jethwa Beams With Pride As His Film Gets Shortlisted; Says 'It Feels Surreal'

Homebound, backed by Dharma Productions, has moved into the Oscars 2026 shortlist for Best International Feature Film, giving actor Vishal Jethwa and the team a major reason to celebrate. The film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, continues to gain wide international praise from audiences and critics.

This shortlist stage places Homebound among 15 films that progress to the next round of voting in the category. The film now stands just one step away from an official nomination, which will be revealed on 22nd January at the 98th Academy Awards announcement.

Homebound Oscars shortlist reaction from Vishal Jethwa

Reacting to the Oscars progress, Vishal Jethwa shared that the moment marked a personal milestone and a collective victory for the entire unit. Jethwa stressed that the response from viewers worldwide had been deeply moving and singled out the creative team for special thanks.

Vishal Jethwa said, "This moment feels surreal and incredibly humbling. To see Homebound being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world. I want to sincerely thank Karan Johar sir for believing in this story and in us as artists his vision and backing gave Homebound the wings it needed. Neeraj Ghaywan sir's sensitivity, honesty, and clarity as a filmmaker pushed me to explore emotional depths I had never touched before. Working under his direction has been nothing short of transformative. I also want to thank Ishaan Khatter, whose passion and commitment elevated every scene, we learned so much from each other on this journey. This recognition belongs to the entire team that poured their heart and soul into the film".

Homebound Oscars shortlist praise from Karan Johar

Karan Johar marked the Homebound Oscars shortlist achievement by posting a screenshot of the official list on Instagram. Johar paired the image with a long note, describing the journey of the film from its early screenings to global acclaim and festival success.

Karan Johar wrote, "I am not sure I can articulate how proud, elated and over the moon I am with the journey of #HOMEBOUND… all of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography … thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true… from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film!!!!!!!!! Upwards and onwards…….. #HOMEBOUND streaming now on @netflix_in."

Homebound follows Chandan and Shoaib, close friends who grow up facing rigid caste and religious divides. Their friendship is tested as the COVID-19 pandemic reshapes daily life, adding layers of emotional strain and social tension to their struggle against long-standing discrimination and inequality.

Key details about the Homebound Oscars shortlist and the film’s journey so far are given below.

Detail	Information
Film title	Homebound
Producer	Dharma Productions (Dharma Movies)
Main cast	Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Janhvi Kapoor
Awards category	Best International Feature Film
Academy Awards edition	98th Academy Awards
Stage reached	Homebound Oscars 2026 shortlist, 15 films advancing
Nomination announcement date	22nd January
Platform	Streaming on Netflix India

With recognition on the Homebound Oscars shortlist, the film’s team, including Neeraj Ghaywan, Karan Johar, Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, now awaits the final nominations. The shortlist placement reflects the strong response to its portrayal of caste, religion and pandemic-era realities, both in India and in global markets.