Oscars 2026: India's 'Homebound' Drops Out Of Academy Awards Race

Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s acclaimed drama Homebound did not make it to the final list of nominations in the Best International Feature Film category, ahead of the Oscars 2026. Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan (2001) remains the last Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (as it was called then).

Actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman announced the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards today.

The five titles which advanced to the final round were Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Norway’s Sentimental Value, Spain’s Sirât and Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab.

The Oscars ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Homebound had been shortlisted among 15 titles for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

The film’s story—of two friends from marginalised communities aspiring to become police officers in search of dignity and stability—was inspired by a 2020 New York Times op-ed, ‘Taking Amrit Home’, by noted writer-journalist Basharat Peer. Backed by Karan Johar, Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa.

Homebound found itself in strong international company on the shortlist, which included other films such as Argentina’s Belén, Germany’s Sound of Falling, Iraq’s The President’s Cake, Japan’s Kokuho, Jordan’s All That’s Left of You, Palestine’s Palestine 36, South Korea’s No Other Choice, , Switzerland’s Late Shift, and Taiwan’s Left-Handed Girl.

The film began its global journey with its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, followed by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film was released theatrically in September 2025.

Homebound also marked Ghaywan’s return to Cannes in the Un Certain Regard category 10 years after Masaan (2015). The career milestone was elevated by the presence of executive producer Martin Scorsese. “This was not even part of my bucket list,” Ghaywan admitted. “I'm literally living the dream of every indie-spirited filmmaker.” Scorsese’s detailed feedback, he said, sharpened the film in ways he hadn’t anticipated, “It was surreal.”

Ghaywan chose to ground the actors in the film’s world from the start. “I gave my actors the narration in a village,” he shared, adding, “I wanted them to understand not just the characters, but the environment they come from."

Though Homebound has missed out on representing India at the Oscars 2026, the film has been critically acclaimed by audiences and critics across the globe.