Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese has developed a profound connection with Indian director Neeraj Ghaywan's film Homebound, which has been selected as India's official entry for the 98th Academy Awards. The Oscar-winning filmmaker, who serves as an executive producer on the project, recently revealed he has watched the film numerous times and feels like he has been living with the story for three years.
Scorsese's Personal Connection to Homebound
During a special screening event in New York earlier this month attended by director Neeraj Ghaywan and actors Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter, Scorsese shared his deep affection for the film. "I have seen it so many times... having gone through the script," the legendary director confessed during a Q&A session.
Scorsese explained how the film stayed with him even while he was working on his own major project, Killers of the Flower Moon. He remembered reading the script and developing such a strong connection that "in a way I have been living with it for 3 years." The filmmaker expressed particular satisfaction that American audiences now have the opportunity to experience what he described as a deeply moving picture.
Homebound's Journey to International Acclaim
The film marks a significant homecoming for director Neeraj Ghaywan, whose earlier work Masaan received widespread critical acclaim. Homebound premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, where it earned an impressive nine-minute standing ovation from the international audience.
Later that year, the film continued its successful festival run at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was awarded the second runner-up prize in the International People's Choice category. These accomplishments have positioned the film as a strong contender in the upcoming Academy Awards, where it will compete for the Best International Feature Film honor.
The Powerful Story Behind Homebound
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla under Dharma Productions, Homebound features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles. The narrative draws inspiration from journalist Basharat Peer's 2020 New York Times essay 'Taking Amrit Home', which was also published as 'A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside'.
The film follows two childhood friends from a small village in North India - Mohammad Shoaib (played by Khatter) and Chandan Kumar (played by Jethwa) - who share the dream of joining the police force. For these characters, the uniform represents more than employment - it offers the respect and dignity that society has historically denied them due to their religious and caste backgrounds.
Meanwhile, Janhvi Kapoor portrays their close friend, a young woman pursuing her academic ambitions while navigating structural challenges. Director Ghaywan has described Homebound as "a deeply personal story about friendship, dignity, and survival" that highlights the quiet strength of people who often remain unseen by society.
Scorsese's ongoing engagement with the project reflects not only his respect for Ghaywan's directorial vision but also the universal resonance of the film's themes exploring friendship, social justice, and human perseverance against all odds.
