Homebound, directed via Neeraj Ghaywan and sponsored with the aid of Karan Johar, has taken a chief step closer to the Oscars 2026. The film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, has been shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category on the 98th Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists throughout 12 classes on Tuesday, December 16, with Homebound emerging as one of the 15 films nonetheless within the race.

The 15 shortlisted worldwide movies will now be narrowed down to five very last nominees. The legit nominations will be introduced on January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards rite will take region on March 15, 2026, with Conan O’Brien returning as host.

Homebound amongst 15 movies shortlisted for Oscars 2026

Alongside Homebound, the shortlist includes 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.The news become shared by means of Dharma Movies on social media. Posting the film’s poster, the production residence wrote, “Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film on the 98th Academy Awards. We’re deeply grateful for the tremendous love and help we’ve acquired from around the world.”

Producer Karan Johar also took to Instagram to reflect at the movie’s adventure. “I am not certain I can articulate how proud, elated and over the moon I am with the journey of #HOMEBOUND… absolutely everyone @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and critical film in our filmography,” he wrote.Thanking director Neeraj Ghaywan, Johar added, “Thank you @neeraj.Ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true… from Cannes to being at the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming adventure!” He ended the put up by means of giving a shoutout to the solid and group and cited, “Upwards and onwards…….. #HOMEBOUND streaming now on @netflix_in.”

Here’s what Homebound is set

Homebound follows adolescence friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), whose shared dream of turning into law enforcement officials shapes their lives and selections. Janhvi Kapoor performs a key position that provides emotional depth to the tale, which explores friendship, responsibility and the pressures faced by using young people in India.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and became later screened on the Toronto International Film Festival. It debuted on Netflix on November 21 and has endured to obtain reputation at worldwide movie gala's and award structures.