'Feels Surreal': Homebound Actor Vishal Jethwa Reacts To Film's Oscar Entry

India has selected filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s highly anticipated drama Homebound as its official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The announcement comes ahead of the film’s theatrical release later this month. Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. In a new interview, Vishal says that it is beyond anything he imagined when he began his journey in cinema.

Vishal Jethwa reacts to Homebound’s Oscar entry

Vishal Jethwa told IANS: “This moment feels absolutely surreal; it’s the kind of news every actor dreams of hearing one day. To know that Homebound is representing India on the world’s biggest cinematic stage is beyond anything I imagined when I began my journey in films.”

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The actor expressed his gratitude to National Award-winning filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan, saying, “I am incredibly thankful to him for not only believing in me but for entrusting me with a role that challenged me as an artist and transformed me as a person.”

“Working with Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor was equally special; they were more than just co-actors; they were supportive collaborators who made every scene richer with their energy and generosity,” Vishal said.

For the actor, the recognition isn’t just a milestone for him personally, it’s a testament to the “entire team’s hard work, passion, and the power of Indian storytelling.”

Also Read: Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, Starring Ishaan Khatter-Vishal Jethwa, Chosen As India’s Oscar Entry

“I feel proud to be a part of a film that carries a piece of our culture and heart to an international audience. To be standing alongside such incredible talent and representing my country on a global platform is truly humbling, and I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead,” said Vishal.

Also Read: Who Decides India’s Oscar Entry? Inside The Jury’s Selection Process

Homebound is India’s official entry to Oscars 2026

The Film Federation of India (FFI), the body responsible for selecting the country’s official entry, confirmed the decision on Friday, news agency PTI reported. With this selection, Homebound will compete alongside submissions from more than 100 nations for a nomination at next year’s Academy Awards.

So far, only three Indian films, Mother India (1958), Salaam Bombay! (1989), and Lagaan (2002), have secured nominations in this category. None have gone on to win. India’s Oscar triumphs have instead come in open categories, most recently with RRR winning two awards in 2023.

Though yet to release in India, Homebound has already made a mark internationally. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where it received a standing ovation. It later travelled to the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, finishing as the second runner-up in the prestigious International People’s Choice Award category.

Maker’s react

Karan Johar shared, “We are deeply honoured and humbled that Homebound has been selected as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards. Neeraj Ghaywan’s labour of love is sure to a find a home in a million hearts across the world.”

Neeraj Ghaywan added, “I’m deeply honoured that Homebound has been chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars. Rooted in the love for our land and our people, it carries the essence of the home we all share. To take our stories to the world and represent India at one of the biggest global stages for cinema is both humbling and a matter of pride, and for this I’m deeply grateful.”

About Homebound

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa as two young men from rural India striving to secure government jobs to achieve social recognition. Their journey highlights the challenges they face due to caste and communal discrimination. Janhvi Kapoor appears in a prominent role as their friend.

The story is inspired by a true account first shared in Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times essay, A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway.

Homebound marks Ghaywan’s return to direction after nearly a decade. The project has heavyweight backing, with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions serving as producer and acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese onboard as executive producer.

Homebound review

A part of Homebound’s review by News18 Showsha read, “At 2 hour 2 minutes, Neeraj makes sure that you’re don’t look away from the screen. The narrative grips you so strongly and evokes such pathos that you truly become a part of this heart-rending world from which there’s no escape. The use of pauses, silences and the lack of background scores for the most part adds to the suppressed rage and melancholy. But don’t be mistaken. Here, there’s no contrived attempt to make you cry. It simply lays bare a fractured system that may officially reserve a quota for them but makes sure that they remain untouchables.”

The film is set for its theatrical release in India on September 26.