Vishal Jethwa Reacts To Homebound's Oscars Exit: It Broke The Hope We Carried But...

Homebound missed out on the 98th Oscars nominations list, yet the film’s journey still drew praise. After the announcement, Vishal Jethwa shared a reflective note on Instagram, speaking about hope, effort, and gratitude, which moved many followers and fans who had backed the film’s global awards run. The Academy revealed the 98th Oscars nominations on Thursday, January 22, confirming that Homebound, India’s official submission for International Feature Film, did not advance to the final stage. The film had earlier secured a place in the top 15 titles, raising expectations across the Indian film industry and among global viewers.

Vishal Jethwa REACTS To Homebound Getting Snubbed At Oscars Nominations 2026

On Instagram, Vishal posted a written note as an image, adding the caption, "Homebound (infinity emoji)". In that note, Vishal opened up about the emotional impact of missing the nomination, while stressing that genuine effort matters more than the final result, especially after months of intense awards campaigning for the film.

In the shared note, Vishal wrote, "Homebound (broken heart emoji) Oscars. Yes, we couldn't make it to the Oscar nominations, and of course, it broke the hope we carried with us. But I believe failure is not when you fail; it's when you don't try. And the only thing the whole Homebound team did from the very first day was to just TRY."

Vishal Jethwa REACTS To Homebound Getting Snubbed At Oscars Nominations 2026: film’s journey and team

Vishal expanded on this thought, saying, "I am proud of the fact that we could make it to the top 15 and am fully satisfied with what we were able to do, having our name associated with the prestigious name called the Oscars, It's more than what I ever imagined, desired, or deserved. Will always be grateful to Jogi sir, Neeraj sir, and Karan sir. My love and respect to Ishaan, Janhvi, and my Homebound family. Now sticking to the Guru mantra of life taught by my Guruji, Shoaib Khan sir: लहरों से डर कर नौका पार नहीं होती, कोशिश करने वालों को हार नहीं होती। Thank you, BHAGWAN"

Homebound is directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles. Dharma Productions backed the project, with Martin Scorsese serving as executive producer. The story follows two best friends, one Muslim and one Dalit, who dream of joining the police force while dealing with caste, religion, love, and survival in a North Indian village.

The film dropped on Netflix and quickly took over OTT conversations within hours of release, helped by strong reviews and word of mouth. Despite that momentum and a sustained awards campaign, the Oscars run ended at the shortlist stage. Homebound remains available on streaming giant Netflix for viewers who want to watch the critically praised drama.

The article is authored by Sonal Verma, who describes being an entertainment enthusiast and long-time follower of Bollywood. Sonal has interacted with several leading celebrities and intends to continue similar work, reflecting the ongoing interest in how Indian films like Homebound perform on international platforms such as the Oscars.