Karan Johar’s new film Homebound left a strong mark at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), drawing a standing ovation from the crowd in its North American debut. The drama, written and directed
by Neeraj Ghaywan, captivated audiences with its multi-layered narrative and engaging performances.
The moment was appreciated by the team and highlighted in a social media post thanking everyone for the great response. Karan Johar, who co-produced the film with Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, also re-shared the moment on his Instagram stories, reflecting pride for the film’s international journey.
From Cannes to Canada: A Celebrated Festival Run
Homebound first caused a wave with its world premiere at the high-profile Cannes Film Festival on May 21. The film’s TIFF selection furthered its building reputation on the global circuit. With international critical acclaim evident after its European debut, the reception in Toronto has only served to further propel it.
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, who has made award-winning films in the past, in Masaan and Geeli Pucchi, the film is a follow-through on his creation of deeply personal and socially relevant subjects.
A Tale of Friendship, Aspiration and Resilience
Against the backdrop of small-town India, Homebound depicts two childhood friends who are getting ready to take the national police entrance exam. As they fight their own inner demons and systemic obstacles, their friendship gets tested in unexpected ways. The narrative gives a poignant perspective on ambition, caste politics and loyalty.
The movie features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor in key roles. All three actors bring out performances that infuse emotional depth and subtlety to Ghaywan’s highly layered storytelling. The performances especially received loud applause at TIFF.
Produced by Global and Indian Powerhouses
The movie has an impressive production crew, with Martin Scorsese as executive producer. His stamp of approval lends international gravitas to the project and has attracted considerable interest from overseas critics and distributors.
Although Homebound lacks an announced release date for Indian cinemas, the film’s festival run indicates that a calculated rollout internationally is imminent. The success at Cannes and TIFF puts the film in a favourable position to be a contender in future award seasons.
