Karan Johar Opens Up About Homebound's Expensive Oscar Journey
Filmmaker Karan Johar recently shared candid thoughts about the Oscar campaign for the film Homebound. He described the process as a "bottomless pit" of expenses. Johar emphasized that he never expected any monetary returns from this project.
A Pure Passion Project
Karan Johar called Homebound a "passion project" from the very beginning. He stated clearly that profit was never the goal. The film tells the story of two migrant workers during the Covid-19 lockdown. It features actors Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa in lead roles, with Janhvi Kapoor playing a key part.
Homebound made it to the shortlist of fifteen films for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars. This recognition came after a rigorous and expensive campaign.
The High Cost of Oscar Dreams
Johar explained the financial challenges of an Oscar campaign. He said, "Doing an Oscar campaign will cost money and sometimes it is a bottomless pit." The filmmaker expressed uncertainty about the final outcome. He noted the difficulty of moving from the shortlist of fifteen to the final five nominees.
Campaign expenses include hiring publicists, international travel, media promotions, and overseas screenings. These costs can run into millions of dollars. For comparison, the 2025 Oscar winner Anora spent about $18 million on its campaign.
The Indian government provides one crore rupees for official Oscar entries. However, this amount covers only a small fraction of actual campaign costs.
Creative Leadership Amid Ownership Changes
Karan Johar also addressed changes at his production house, Dharma Productions. He sold a fifty percent stake in the company to Adar Poonawalla. Despite this, Johar remains the creative force behind all projects.
He praised Poonawalla as a "gracious partner" who thinks on a large scale. Johar said, "I am very much still the creative leader and the creative voice." He confirmed that Poonawalla does not interfere in creative decisions, focusing instead on broader business perspectives.
Support for the Oscar Campaign
When discussing the Oscar campaign for Homebound, Johar revealed that Adar Poonawalla fully supported the effort. Poonawalla viewed it as a great opportunity rather than a financial risk. He encouraged going all out without worrying about profit or loss.
Johar reiterated that the film was about credibility and passion, not money. He said they would make other films for commercial survival, but Homebound stood apart as a special project.
The filmmaker's comments highlight the growing ambition of Indian cinema on the global stage. They also show the significant investments required for international recognition.
