KOLKATA: The Hindi film Homebound has been selected as India’s official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature category, as announced by N Chandra, the chairperson of the selection committee, on Friday. During a press conference in Kolkata, Chandra mentioned that a total of 24 films in various languages were considered for representing India at the Oscars. “It was a very difficult choice. These were films that touched the lives of people,” he stated. “We were not judges but coaches. We were searching for players who have made their mark,” he added. The selection committee, consisting of 12 members, included producers, directors, writers, editors, and journalists.
Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in leading roles. The film tells the story of two childhood friends from a small village in northern India who aspire to secure a police job that offers them the dignity they have long sought.