Ishaan Khatter’s Homebound shortlisted for Oscars 2026: Zoya Akhtar, Kiara Advani, Manish Malhotra and other celebs react

Neeraj Ghaywan’s directorial Homebound has made the country proud, as it got shortlisted in the best international feature category at the upcoming Oscars 2026. Featuring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa in the lead, the movie is about two rural friends as they follow their dreams. The highly acclaimed movie is currently among the top 15 movies vying for the coveted 98th Academy Awards. Filmmakers Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar have shared their excitement over the Oscar nod. Actress Kiara Advani also reacted to Homebound’s selection. Read on…

Homebound gets shortlisted for Oscar 2026, celebrities react

Ishaan Khatter’s Homebound is all set to represent India in the Oscars 2026, as it is shortlisted with 14 other global films in the best international feature film category. The highly acclaimed drama film beat more than 80 countries to claim its place in the Top 15 films in the category. This is a proud moment for India, and social media is abuzz with reactions. From celebrities to fans, there are several heartwarming reactions to Homebound’s selection. Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar celebrated the achievement and dubbed it epic as she expressed love to the entire team. "To all my friends behind Homebound and in Homebound - This is epic!!," wrote Zoya Akhtar.

ALSO READ: Homebound OTT release date: Here's when and where you can stream India's Oscar-entry by Neeraj Ghaywan, featuring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa

Kiara Advani also congratulated Homebound’s team for this proud moment via social media. Fashion designer and producer Manish Malhotra also extended best wishes to his dear friend Karan Johar and Homebound’s team. Actress Dia Mirza reacted on Homebound’s shortlisted status and called it ‘Epic’

Check out reactions below:

Backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma, Ishaan Khatter’s film is getting recognition for its powerful performances and also narrative. Dharma team expressed gratitude for the love on their film and shared on social media, "Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. We’re deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we’ve received from around the world."

Meanwhile, Karan Johar, who produced the film, penned a lengthy post on social media. In the post, Karan shared that Homebound’s selection is a proud moment for the team and reminisced about the Cannes moments leading to the Oscar nod. "I am not sure I can articulate how proud, elated, and over the moon I am with the journey of #HOMEBOUND… all of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography… Thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true… From Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist, this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special film! Upwards and onwards," wrote Karan Johar.

Academy Awards 2026

Starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead, Homebound is a critically acclaimed drama film that has been shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category and is now inching closer to the big win as it advanced to another round with 14 other films vying for the prestigious title. The Oscar 2026 contenders include Argentina’s Belén, Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Germany’s Sound of Falling, Iraq’s The President’s Cake, Japan’s Kokuho, Jordan’s All That’s Left of You, Norway’s Sentimental Value, Palestine’s Palestine 36, South Korea’s No Other Choice, Spain’s Sirât, Switzerland’s Late Shift, Taiwan’s Left-Handed Girl, and Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, apart from India’s Homebound. Get ready to witness the epic nominations on January 22, in which only five titles will make to the final. Oscar 2026 will be held on March 15, 2026.

Homebound FAQs:

Q: Where to watch Homebound online?

A: Homebound is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Q. Is Homebound selected for Oscar Awards 2026?

A. Yes, Homebound has been shortlisted for the Oscar Awards 2026 and is one of the top 15 international titles in the 'Best International feature film category.' The final voting round will unveil the fate of Homebound. 

Q: Is Homebound based on a true story?

A: Yes, Homebound is inspired by a true story and follows the story of two childhood friends who aspire to clear the national police exam.

Q: Who are the main actors in the film 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.