Homebound trailer reactions: Netizens draw comparisons to Masaan, some question title 'Do you wish to cater international...'

The Homebound official trailer finally dropped today, and left the internet buzzing with excitement. Check out what netizens have to say about Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa's movie.

Still from Homebound

Two best friends, sharing one big dream to become police officers amid numerous challenges in life, are at the centre of Homebound. The newly released trailer of Homebound pulls back the curtains on their struggles. Neeraj Ghaywan's directorial is not just a typical drama movie; Homebound has impressed the audience at the Cannes Film Festival, and also won two accolades at the Toronto International Film Festival. Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa play the lead roles along with Janhvi Kapoor in Karan Johar's film. The trailer has already left the internet buzzing with excitement, with some drawing comparisons to Masaan.

Netizens react to Homebound trailer

The 2-minute-53-second trailer was dropped a few hours back on September 17, and netizens left no chance to share their excitement and opinion on the movie.

One of the netizens criticised the title of the movie and wrote on Instagram, “Great trailer!! Wrong title!! Do you wish to cater international audiences only???”. Another wrote on the same platform, “The plot of this film is very sensitive!! If it not reaches to max number of people! Then there's no point!”

ASLO READ: Homebound Trailer OUT: Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa chase one dream but childhood friendship comes at stake

Meanwhile, on X (formerly Twitter), some netizens compared Homebound with Vicky Kaushal's Masaan and shared their excitement for the movie's release. Another shared a dialogue from the movie and wrote, “Pehchan To wo hai, jo hum Khud Banate hai (Identity isn't what they box us into, it's what we build for ourselves).”

What's the plot of Karan Johar's Homebound?

The movie follows two childhood friends  - Mohammed Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan Kumar (Vishal Jethwa) - from north India who dream of becoming police officers one day, despite struggling with severe poverty. They expect their dream job will give them the due respect. However, the pressure to grow and succeed in life makes their desperate journey more difficult, amid societal expectations. The movie promises an emotionally powerful story that highlights the prejudices of society.

Homebound claims to be inspired by true events from journalist Basharat Peer's New York Times article from 2020. While the article recounted the experiences of two young migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, the movie follows the journey of two best friends' struggles in life. Homebound is slated to make theatrical release on September 26, 2025.

FAQs

Q: What is Homebound at Cannes?

A: Neeraj Ghaywan's new film Homebound, which premiered in the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, finds its roots in a poignant real-life story first told in a New York Times op-ed during India's COVID-19 lockdown.

Q: Who stars in Homebound?

A: Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa.

Q: Is Homebound releasing in theaters?

A: Yes. Homebound will hit theaters on September 26, 2025, worldwide.

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