Homebound Has Been Selected as India’s Entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards

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Ishan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa’s critically acclaimed film Homebound, which is generating strong Oscar buzz, is finally set for its OTT release. The streaming date and platform have now been confirmed, giving fans and cine-lovers a chance to watch the much-talked-about drama from home.

Homebound OTT Release

Homebound, India’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards, is now set to reach a global audience with its streaming debut. The film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhavi Kapoor, resonated deeply with critics and viewers during its theatrical run and will soon be available to a larger audience online.

Netflix announced that Neeraj Ghaywan's film will be available for streaming on their platform starting November 21. The streaming platform posted a note on Instagram with the poster of the film, which read, "A long road home. A friend who feels like home. Two childhood friends take their shot at living a life of dignity, but there’s a long battle to be won. India’s Official Selection for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Oscars, Homebound, is out 21 November on Netflix."

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The Martin Scorsese Connection

The film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, with Marijke deSouza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier serving as co-producers. Homebound also boasts global cinematic influence with Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar serving as executive producers.

Scorsese hosted the special screening of the film, which was held in New York earlier this month.

“We worked on the film, and I loved the film, and I was telling your actors that I have seen it so many times… having gone through the script. I was making ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and that was a long film and I was immersed in that,” Scorsese is heard saying in the video. Scorsese said he is satisfied that the American audience got to see the film.

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“But I remember this, because I remember reading the script, and so in a way I have been living with it for 3 years, so honestly it is quite satisfying that it is here. I love that audiences in America get to see this picture,” he added.

Global Recognition of Homebound

Homebound had a world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, followed by an acclaimed screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. The team secured the Second Runner-Up position for the International Audience Choice Award. 

Director’s POV

Director Neeraj Ghaywan said, “Inspired by a true story of friendship, Homebound explores the universal themes of connection and compassion as forms of quiet resistance. After screening in competition at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals and loved by everyone, it has now found a home on Netflix, reaching audiences in 190 countries.”

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Producer Karan Johar added, “Homebound is the kind of film that reminds us why stories matter, intimate, layered, and guided with great care by Neeraj. Supporting a film like this has been a privilege. Seeing the film reach Netflix allows it to connect with audiences far beyond its immediate world, and that journey is incredibly special for us at Dharma.”

About Homebound

Homebound follows childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa). The Muslim and the Dalit friends chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames. It explores themes of friendship, duty, ambition, and the societal pressures shaping young India.