Homebound box office collection day 1: Ishaan Khatter-Vishal Jethwa starrer faces sluggish start; opens to subdued ₹30 lakh

India's Oscar entry, Homebound opened with a disappointing ₹30 lakh at the box office on a highly limited release. Despite international acclaim, producers are betting on word-of-mouth.

Homebound

The official submission from India for the 98th Academy Awards, Homebound directed by National Award winner Neeraj Ghaywan, had a remarkably subdued opening in the domestic box office. The film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, grossed an estimated ₹30 lakh nett on its debut day, September 26.

Opening figures fall short

This number puts the film's opening at a far lower level than prior films featuring its major performers, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. By comparison, Khatter's earlier film Dhadak collected ₹8.71 crore on day one, and Phone Bhoot brought in ₹2.05 crore. The opening weekend of Salaam Venky (Jethwa's film) was ₹45 lakh.

The extremely limited theatrical release is a contributing factor to the underwhelming box office performance. While Homebound is a Karan Johar-produced film, it deviates significantly from the banner's usual massive openings—which sometimes surpass 4,000 shows—in its release with only 400 showings in multiplexes across the country. According to industry insiders, the film played at 200-225 theatres nationwide.

ALSO READ: Homebound Review: Through Ishaan, Janhvi and Vishal, Ghaywan finds melancholy in the margins we ignore

Strategy of highly limited theatrical release

The low number of screens was intentional, according to trade expert Komal Nahta. "The makers released it on a limited number of screens because it is not a usual commercial film," Nahta explained to SCREEN, implying that the strategy is meant to allow the film to "grow by word-of-mouth publicity" instead of depending on an initial rush. The film only got 131 showings in the Delhi-NCR region and 103 showings in Mumbai, according to the figures from multiplexes.

Compared to its massive success abroad, Homebound's subdued home debut is striking. A world premiere at the esteemed Cannes Film Festival preceded screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival for the film, which reportedly had a modest budget of ₹25 crore. The project has the legendary Martin Scorsese on board as an executive producer.

Story focuses on caste and religious identity

Fictionalised from journalist Basharat Peer's Taking Amrit Home the story tackles weighty societal themes through the lens of a troubled childhood bond between a Muslim and a Dalit youth who, to shed the shame associated with their caste names, apply for police duties.

Despite its success at foreign film festivals, the film encountered local issues leading up to its release, most notably eleven changes ordered by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The makers are relying on critical praise and persistent word-of-mouth instead of a blockbuster opening, according to this history and the cautious release approach. It all started with Dhadak in 2018, but Karan Johar's production firm has been funding films that tackle societal themes recently.

FAQs:

Q: What was the opening day box office collection for Homebound?

A: The film Homebound grossed an estimated ₹30 lakh nett at the domestic box office on its debut day, September 26, 2025.

Q: Who are the main actors and the director of Homebound?

A: Homebound is directed by National Award winner Neeraj Ghaywan (Masaan). The main cast includes Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor.

Q: Is Homebound India's official entry for the Academy Awards?

A: Yes, Homebound is India's official entry to the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars) in the Best International Feature Film category.

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