'Homebound' makes Oscars 2026 shortlist: Indian films that cracked the Academy

Earlier this year, Homebound emerged as one of the most searing Indian films of the year — a devastating commentary on caste, displacement, and the systemic fractures endured by India’s marginalised communities. Set against the unforgiving backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the film is anchored by deeply felt performances from Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, alongside Janhvi Kapoor.

The film premiered to widespread international acclaim at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section on May 21. At the festival, it reportedly received a nine-minute standing ovation, firmly placing director Neeraj Ghaywan back on the global cinematic map, a decade after his acclaimed Cannes debut with Masaan (2015). 

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Momentum only continued to build following a high-profile panel discussion in New York, where legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese — who serves as an executive producer on the film — was seen in an animated exchange with Ghaywan, signalling the kind of cross-cultural artistic endorsement few Indian films have managed to achieve.

Backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, Homebound was subsequently selected as India’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards, following Laapataa Ladies, last year’s submission that narrowly missed the shortlist.

Now, in a significant milestone for Indian cinema, the Academy has officially confirmed that Homebound has made it to the prestigious shortlist of 15 films, selected from 86 submissions worldwide. The final five nominations will be announced on January 22, 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the film’s awards-season journey.

As we wait for the big reveal in January, here is a look back at the Indian films that have previously broken into the Academy’s inner circle and secured a place on the shortlist/nominations:

Mother India (1957)

The 1957 epic Mother India, starring Nargis alongside Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, and Rajendra Kumar, holds a key place in Indian cinematic history as the country’s first-ever official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (earlier known as Best Foreign Language Film).

In a landmark moment for Indian cinema, the film, which became a metaphor for a newly independent nation, went on to become the first from the country to be shortlisted among the top 15 contenders and ultimately secure a coveted place in the final five nominees.

Salaam Bombay! (1988)

In 1988 came Mira Nair’s stellar debut, which took the global film circuit by storm. Garnering widespread critical acclaim, Salaam Bombay! showcased the daily survival struggles of children living in the slums of Bombay (now Mumbai).

Like its predecessor Mother India, this film successfully navigated the shortlist and landed a final Oscar nomination.

Lagaan (2001)

In 2001, Indian cinema returned to the global spotlight with Lagaan, written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker — an uplifting tale of resistance in which a group of Indian villagers turn the British game of cricket into a powerful act of defiance against their colonial rulers.

Led by Aamir Khan, the sweeping period sports drama transcended borders to become a global blockbuster, earning both mass appeal and critical acclaim in equal measure. Advancing beyond the shortlist, the film also managed to secure a nomination among the final five contenders at the Academy Awards.

Last Film Show (Chhello Show) (2022)

After a long gap of 21 years, Last Film Show, which was India’s official entry in 2022, was shortlisted in the top 15 category of the Academy Awards. It was India’s first Gujarati-language film to be an official entry for the coveted awards, in a post-Bahubali cinematic landscape where regional cinema was becoming more widely accessed and consumed as ‘pan-India’ cinema.

However, that was the end of the journey for the film, as it did not advance to the final top five nominations.

Homebound (2025)

Now, in 2025, Ghaywan’s Homebound carries that legacy forward. Since its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the film has been steadily globetrotting across major international platforms, building momentum and critical conversation along the way.

The story follows two childhood friends from marginalised communities as they navigate an unforgiving social order and the isolating realities of the Covid-19 lockdown. Homebound has now officially secured its place on the Academy’s shortlist, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the sharpest and most resonant works in contemporary world cinema.

So, will the Oscar finally be homebound with this one? Well, that’s for time to tell, as the final nominations for the category will be revealed next month.

Somya Mehta

somya@khaleejtimes.com

Somya Mehta is a Senior Features Writer at Khaleej Times, who contributes extensively to the UAE's arts, culture, and lifestyle scene. When not engrossed in writing, you'll find her on the hunt for the next best solo travel destination or indulging in podcast binges.