India’s Oscar Entry Homebound 'Destroyed In Parts' By CBFC, Major Scenes Cut: Report

India’s official submission to the Oscars, Homebound, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, has become the center of controversy

over censorship issues. Despite receiving acclaim at international film festivals such as Cannes and Toronto, the film reportedly underwent significant edits and modifications by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

CBFC hurdles for Homebound

While Homebound has drawn praise abroad, its domestic certification process appears to have been fraught with challenges. According to The Indian Express, the film waited nearly three months for a CBFC screening, which a member of the unit described as “very hostile.”

“The director was distraught but the producers reminded him of the ordeal faced by Dhadak 2 (on caste and social discrimination), which suffered a significant delay in release (and was eventually granted a U/A certificate with 16 cuts in May),” a production team member told the publication.

The report adds that multiple caste references were reportedly demanded to be modified or removed, leaving the filmmakers distressed. Sources within the CBFC confirmed that board member T S Nagabharana was brought in from Bengaluru to head the Revising Committee (RC) for Homebound, where he reportedly pressed Neeraj Ghaywan to justify the cuts and changes concerning caste references. A unit member described the process as the film being “destroyed in parts.”

Martin Scorsese’s name removed, later restored

The controversy also extended to the film’s international associations. On September 13, a day after the CBFC granted Homebound a ‘UA16+’ certificate, its poster did not feature Martin Scorsese’s name, despite his contribution in assisting Ghaywan with final edits. A fresh set of posters released three days later credited Scorsese as ‘executive producer.’

“I loved the story, the culture and was willing to help. Neeraj has made a beautifully crafted film that’s a significant contribution to Indian cinema,” Scorsese had said in April when his involvement with the project was first announced.

The events surrounding Homebound also highlight internal tensions within the CBFC. Appointed in 2017, chairperson Prasoon Joshi has overseen a process that filmmakers, according to the report, increasingly describe as a “one-man show.”

About Homebound

Homebound is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language drama film written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, inspired by a 2020 New York Times article by Basharat Peer. Produced by Dharma Productions, the film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. It tells the story of two childhood friends from a small village in North India who aspire to pass the national police exam, hoping to earn the respect and stability that have long eluded them.

The film had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 21 May. Following its festival debut, Homebound was selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, highlighting the film’s critical acclaim and international recognition.

Homebound was released theatrically on 26 September 2025 to widespread critical praise. Reviewers lauded Neeraj Ghaywan’s direction, the performances of the lead cast, the film’s writing, editing, and its exploration of social and personal themes.

Two childhood friends, Shoaib and Chandan, dream of becoming police officers, hoping that the job will finally earn them the respect they have been denied all their lives. As they move closer to achieving their goal, societal pressures, personal challenges, and ambitions begin to strain their friendship, testing the strength of their bond.

Ishaan Khatter stars as Mohammed Shoaib Ali, with Vishal Jethwa playing Chandan Kumar and Janhvi Kapoor as Sudha Bharti. Harshika Parmar plays Vaishali, Chandan’s sister, while Shalini Vatsa portrays Phool, Chandan’s mother. The film also features Chandan K Anand as Haroon Nawaz, Yogendra Vikram Singh as Arjun Mishra, Pankaj Dubey as Hassan Ali (Shoaib’s father), Dadhi R Pandey as Awdesh Kumar (Chandan’s father), Shreedhar Dubey as Vikas Tripathi, and Sudipta Saxena as Shoaib’s mother, alongside Vijay Vikram Singh, Kuldeep Raghuvanshi, and Aamir Aziz in supporting roles.