India's Oscar Bid Homebound REMOVED Martin Scorsese's Name, Film Was 'Destroyed In Parts' By CBFC In 'Hostile Screening' - Report

India’s

official Oscar entry Homebound, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan and backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, has found itself at the centre of a storm. Despite its warm reception at international festivals like Cannes and Toronto, the film reportedly suffered significant cuts and modifications at the hands of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), leaving insiders fuming about what they describe as a 'super censorship raj.'

Homebound screening for CBFC turned hostile

Homebound's heavy topic seems to have found admirers in film festivals, but at home, it was “destroyed in parts”, said a unit member. According to a report by The Indian Express, the film had to wait nearly three months just for a screening date. When it finally came, a unit member claimed the screening turned “very hostile.” The CBFC reportedly demanded multiple caste references to be either modified or removed, leaving the director deeply distressed. “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 an U/A certificate with 16 cuts in May),” said a member of the production team to the publication.The report further claims that sources within the CBFC confirmed that board member T S Nagabharana was called in from Bengaluru to head the Revising Committee (RC) for Homebound. He reportedly tore into Neeraj to justify all the cuts and changes made on caste references.ALSO READ:Homebound At Oscars 2026: Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa Film Chosen As India's Official Entry In Best International Feature Category

Martin Scorsese's name removed, then added

The controversy also extended to the film’s international associations. On September 13, just a day after the CBFC granted it a ‘UA16+’ certificate, the

Homebound poster conspicuously excluded Martin Scorsese’s name, despite his contribution in helping Ghaywan with the final edits. Only three days later did a fresh set of posters credit him 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 association with the project was first announced.The turmoil highlights growing tensions within the CBFC itself. Appointed in 2017, chairperson Prasoon Joshi has overseen what filmmakers, as per the report, now call a 'one-man show'. At the time of publishing, CBFC or Homebound makers have not officially commented on the controversy.