New Delhi, Jan 23: India’s official Oscar entry, ‘Homebound’, has not made it to the final nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, bringing a quiet end to its campaign. Despite early buzz and widespread critical acclaim, the film was absent from the list of nominees announced on Thursday.
Earlier, ‘Homebound’ had been shortlisted in the International Feature Film category alongside submissions from Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Norway, Palestine, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Tunisia.
The official nominees in the category are The Secret Agent, It Was Just An Accident, Sentimental Value, Sirat, and The Voice of Hind Rajab.
‘Homebound’ has earned global recognition with premieres at prestigious film festivals including Cannes, Toronto, and Melbourne.
By making the Oscar shortlist, it also achieved a rare milestone, becoming only the fifth Indian film to be shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category in the Academy Awards’ 98-year history.
Starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, ‘Homebound’ was among 15 films eligible for the final nominations. The film tells the story of childhood friends Shoaib (Khatter) and Chandan (Jethwa), whose shared dream of joining the police force shapes their lives, with Janhvi Kapoor adding emotional depth to a narrative rooted in friendship, duty, and the challenges faced by young India.
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta, and co-produced by Marijke deSouza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier, with Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar serving as Executive Producers.