Homebound director recalls village experience for two months with Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, ‘I started crying..’
Homebound director Neeraj Ghaywan shared his life-changing experience in a village before he began shooting for the film that turned out to be a 'rewarding process' for his acclaimed drama film.
Homebound still
Last Updated: 01.55 PM, Dec 24, 2025
Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa's Homebound has been getting praise and rave reviews for its inspiring tale of friendship and ambition against the odds. Homebound also emerged as one of the top 15 finalists for Best International Feature Film for the Academy Awards 2026 after beating more than 80 films across the world in the category. Recently, Neeraj Ghaywan opened up about his life-changing experience in a village before he began shooting for the film. Not just the filmmaker but also the leading duo of Ishaan and Vishal spent nearly two months in the village to familiarize themselves with its surroundings, accent, and way of living.
Homebound’s village experience
A good film remains with you for a long time even after the credits roll down, and Homebound’s journey is nothing short of magical. Filmmaker Neeraj Geywan shared his experience about Homebound with Zoom at its directors round table 2025 event and revealed how the prep of the film began in a small village for nearly sixty days. The filmmaker called it a ‘rewarding process that changed something in him.’
Neeraj Geywan’s interaction with a villager
During his days in the village Neeraj reminisced about a heartwarming gesture of a man, whose words impacted him so much that he actually cried while getting soaked in the emotions. "I was just so overwhelmed eating in that house. I thanked the man and he hugged me and said, 'Aadmi gareeb hoon, lekin khana achha khilaunga, sir.” There was so much love, and I don’t know why, but I ended up crying."
The entire workshop came as a life-changing experience for the filmmaker as he understood how sometimes interactions with people of the marginalized communities kind of humble a person. Speaking about the rewarding experience, Neeraj added, "At that moment, I felt that life happening right here is so much bigger than me making a film about it. I just felt so small. I think the whole journey has been such a rewarding experience—people coming and finding catharsis in their own lives through it. Because I think we tend to overlook people, especially those from marginalized communities. Them being seen, heard, and validated—that sort of experience humbles you. It has definitely changed something within me. I think I’ve become even more empathetic, and I’ve become a better listener."
Meanwhile, as reported by Hindustan Times, author Puja Changoiwala has claimed that parts of Homebound and even the title, have been plagiarised from her 2021 novel. Hence, she filed a complaint against Dharma and Netflix for copyright and infringement issues.
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Homebound FAQs:
Q: Is Homebound out on OTT?
A: Yes, Homebound is currently streaming on Netflix.
Q. Homebound shortlisted for Oscar Awards 2026?
A. Yes, Homebound has been shortlisted for the Academy Awards 2026. The movie secured its place in the top 15 international titles in the 'Best International feature film category.'
Q: What is Homebound about?
A: Homebound follows the story of two childhood friends who aspire to clear the national police exam against the odds of systematic corruption and injustice.
Q: List the cast of Homebound?
A: The main actors in the film Homebound are Ishaan Khatter as Mohammed Shoaib Ali, Vishal Jethwa as Chandan Kumar, and Janhvi Kapoor as Sudha Bharti.