India’s long wait for an Academy Award nomination continues. The Hindi film Homebound has failed to make the final cut for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars, delivering a blow to Indian cinema fans. The last film to reach the final nomination stage was Aamir Khan’s Lagaan back in 2002.
The Academy instead selected a diverse group of films from across the globe. The five nominees that Homebound was competing against are:
- The Secret Agent (Brazil)
- It Was Just an Accident (France)
- Sentimental Value (Norway)
- Sirât (Spain)
- The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
Homebound: A story of struggle and lockdown
Produced by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Adar Poonawalla under Dharma Productions, Homebound was inspired by a 2020 New York Times article by Basharat Peer. The movie follows two friends, Shoaib and Chandan, who face systemic discrimination while trying to build a life for themselves. Their struggle reaches a breaking point during the COVID-19 lockdown when they lose their jobs and embark on a desperate journey to return to their village.
‘Passion over any monetary benefit’
Despite the disappointment, the producers stood by the film’s message. Karan Johar had previously spoken about the massive costs of running an Oscar campaign, calling it a “bottomless pit.” However, he explained that co-producer Adar Poonawalla encouraged the team to focus on the film’s importance rather than the money.
“Adar said, ‘Let’s think of passion over any monetary benefit,’” Johar shared in an interview. “It is not a money-making exercise for us. It is about credibility.”
Homebound controversy
The film’s journey was also marked by legal drama. Recently, author Puja Changoiwala sued the filmmakers, claiming that Homebound plagiarized her 2021 novel of the same name. Dharma Productions dismissed these claims as “baseless,” stating the film is a legally licensed adaptation of Basharat Peer’s journalism.
While the film earned praise for its raw look at the pandemic, the lack of an Oscar nod means India will have to wait another year to break its 24-year drought in the international category.