India’s long-standing dream of winning the prestigious Oscars’ “Black Lady” has suffered another setback. Just ahead of the final stage of nominations for the 2026 Academy Awards, India’s lone contender Homebound failed to make it into the final five in the Best International Feature Film category, which was officially announced by the Academy a short while ago.
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Dharma Productions, Homebound starred Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter in lead roles. The film was India’s official submission this year and had generated considerable optimism after advancing to the top 15 shortlist. This marked a rare moment of hope for Indian cinema, as Homebound became the first Indian film since Aamir Khan’s Lagaan to reach this advanced stage in the category formerly known as Best Foreign Language Film.
However, the journey ended just before the final lap. The Academy ultimately shortlisted five films: The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirat (Spain), and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), leaving Homebound out of the race.
Homebound is inspired by a New York Times article and follows the story of two childhood friends, Shoaib and Chandan, played by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the film explores their struggle to crack the national police examination, driven by the belief that a government job would earn them dignity, respect, and social recognition.
While Indian cinema has tasted Oscar glory in recent years — with SS Rajamouli’s RRR winning Best Original Song for “Naatu Naatu” in 2023 and The Elephant Whisperers bagging Best Documentary Short in the same year — the wait for a Best Film or Best International Feature Film win continues. No Indian film has yet achieved that milestone.
The final winners of the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. For Indian film lovers, the painful wait for history to be made goes on.
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