Homebound in Oscars 2026 shortl: What it means for Neeraj Ghaywan film, its chances to win the Academy Award, and what comes next? | Bollywood News

Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, has become only the fifth Indian film to make it to the shortl of the Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards. Chosen as India’s official Oscars entry back in September, it’s traversed a long and tough road of competing with 86 films from around the globe to make it to the top 15 in the shortl announced on Tuesday.Qualifying for the shortl is in itself a monumental achievement, particularly in the Best International Feature category. In other categories, only the Academy members relevant to that category are eligible to vote. For instance, only documentary filmmakers are eligible to vote in the best documentary categories.
However, in case of the Best International Feature, an Academy member has to watch all other contenders and then opt in to vote in the category. The competition is also quite huge and diverse, given India’s official Oscars entry competed with each country’s official entry. It’s managed to find a place among Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident (France) and Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice (South Korea).
Only 4 Indian films made it to the shortl
As per the official website of the Film Federation of India, there are only four films before Homebound that have made it to the Oscars shortl. Three of them also made it to the final Best International Feature category (then known as Best Foreign Film category), but didn’t win the Oscar. These include Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957), which was also the first time India sent its official entry, at the 30th Academy Awards.
It took 30 years for the second instance, Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! (1988) at the 60th Academy Awards. Fourteen years later, Ashutosh Gowariker’s 2001 period sports drama Lagaan, starring Aamir Khan, also made it to the final category. The only time, so far, an official entry of India has made it to the shortl, but not to the main category is Pan Nalin’s 2021 Gujarati coming-of-age film Last Film Show.
Reactions to Homebound’s milestone
Karan Johar, who produced Homebound under his banner Dharma Productions, took to Instagram to share his excitement. “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,” he wrote, adding, “From Cannes to being on the Oscar shortl this has been such an overwhelming journey!” Ghaywan also shared the news on his social media handles, writing, “We’re deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we’ve received from around the world.”
The road ahead
While it’s itself an achievement to make it to the top 15, it’s an uphill road for Homebound ahead. Given it has some formidable rivals in Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident (France), Park Chan-Wook’s No Other Choice (South Korea), and Sentimental Value Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value (Norway) in the category. The biggest roadblock in its way is that unlike a South Korea, India has never won an Oscar in the Best International Feature category. Even its last nomination in the category, Lagaan, was over two decades ago.Story continues below this ad
In fact, only 10 Indians have won an Oscar so far, with SS Rajamouli’s 2022 Telugu epic fantasy RRR being the only full-length feature film to achieve that feat, that too in the Best Original Song category for “Naatu Naatu”.
Oscar nominations in January
The voting for the Academy members will take place between January 12, 2026 and January 16, 2026, and the final Oscar categories will be announced on January 22, 2026.
Oscars Shortls
Animated Short Film
AutokarButterflyCardboardÉiruForevergreenThe Girl Who Cried PearlsHurikánI Died in IrpinThe Night BootsPlaying GodThe Quinta’s GhostRetirement PlanThe Shyness of TreesSnow BearThe Three Sers
Casting
FrankensteinHamnetMarty SupremeOne Battle after AnotherThe Secret AgentSentimental ValueSinnersSirâtWeaponsWicked: For GoodStory continues below this ad
Cinematography
Ballad of a Small PlayerBugoniaDie My LoveF1FrankensteinHamnetMarty SupremeNouvelle VagueOne Battle after AnotherSentimental ValueSinnersSirSong Sung BlueSound of FallingTrain DreamsWicked: For Good
Documentary Feature Film
The Alabama SolutionApocalypse in the TropicsCoexence, My Ass!Come See Me in the Good LightCover-UpCutting through RocksFolktalesHolding LiatMr. Nobody against PutinMress DispellerMy Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in MoscowThe Perfect NeighborSeeds2000 Meters to AndriivkaYanuni
Documentary Short Film
All the Empty RoomsAll the Walls Came DownArmed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent RenaudBad HostageCashing OutChasing TimeChildren No More: “Were and Are Gone”Classroom 4The Devil Is BusyHeartbeatLast Days on Lake TrinityOn Healing Land, Birds PerchPerfectly a StrangenessRovina’s ChoiceWe Were the Scenery
International Feature Film
Argentina, BelénBrazil, The Secret AgentFrance, It Was Just an AccidentGermany, Sound of FallingIndia, HomeboundIraq, The President’s CakeJapan, KokuhoJordan, All That’s Left of YouNorway, Sentimental ValuePalestine, Palestine 36South Korea, No Other ChoiceSpain, SirâtSwitzerland, Late ShiftTaiwan, Left-Handed GirlTunisia, The Voice of Hind RajabStory continues below this ad
Live-action Short Film
AdoAmarelaBeyond SilenceThe Boy with White SkinButcher’s StainButterfly on a WheelDad’s Not HomeExtremA Friend of DorothyJane Austen’s Period DramaPantyhoseThe Pearl CombRock, Paper, ScissorsThe SingersTwo People Exchanging Saliva
Makeup and Hairstyling
The Alto KnightsFrankensteinKokuhoMarty SupremeNurembergOne Battle after AnotherSinnersThe Smashing MachineThe Ugly StepserWicked: For Good
Music (Original Score)
Avatar: Fire and AshBugoniaCaptain America: Brave New WorldDiane Warren: RelentlessF1FrankensteinHamnetHeddaA House of DynamiteJay KellyMarty SupremeNurembergOne Battle after AnotherSinnersSirâtTrain DreamsTron: AresTruth and TreasonWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out MysteryWicked: For Good
Music (Original Song)
“As Alive As You Need Me To Be” from Tron: Ares“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless“Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash“Drive” from F1“Dying To Live” from Billy Idol Should Be Dead“The Girl In The Bubble” from Wicked: For Good“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters“Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest“I Lied To You” from Sinners“Last Time (I Seen The Sun)” from Sinners“No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good“Our Love” from The Ballad of Wallis Island“Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” from Come See Me in the Good Light“Sweet Dreams Of Joy” from Viva Verdi!“Train Dreams” from Train DreamsStory continues below this ad

Sound
Avatar: Fire and AshF1FrankensteinMission: Impossible – The Final ReckoningOne Battle after AnotherSinnersSirâtSpringsteen: Deliver Me from NowhereSupermanWicked: For Good
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Visual Effects
Avatar: Fire and AshThe Electric StateF1FrankensteinJurassic World RebirthThe Lost BusSinnersSupermanTron: AresWicked: For Good