Neeraj Ghaywan’s directorial Homebound is based on a real-life story centered on two best friends. The deeply moving narrative has resonated with audiences in India and across the world as the film was screened at multiple film festivals before its theatrical release in India. The film is also India’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Dharma Productions, the film stars Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa.
Homebound plot
Homebound follows childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), whose shared dream of joining the police force shapes their lives, with Janhvi Kapoor adding emotional depth to a story rooted in friendship, duty, and the pressures facing young India.
Director Neeraj Ghaywan describes the film as, “Inspired by a true story of friendship, Homebound explores the universal themes of connection and compassion as forms of quiet resistance.”
Thank you @madversity ! Happy that the film resonated with you 😊.
IRL, crueler things have happened to the actual people. Mohammed Saiyub left for Dubai and did not take up education as shown in the film— again a privilege not many of us recognise. Amrit’s rotting body was…— Neeraj Ghaywan (@ghaywan) December 8, 2025
Now, Neeraj Ghaywan has revealed that he changed the ending of Homebound from what actually happened in real life. Responding to an X user recently, Ghaywan revealed the reason behind the change.
He wrote, “IRL, crueler things have happened to the actual people. Mohammed Saiyub left for Dubai and did not take up education as shown in the film — again, a privilege not many of us recognise. Amrit’s rotting body was allowed to travel after 3 days only when the Covid test came negative.”
Revealing why he did not stick to the real-life ending, the filmmaker said, “Even I believe in empathy and hope, and that’s why the different ending as opposed to real events. But I couldn’t have strayed far away from their lived reality. It would have been a disservice to hundreds of Saiyubs (Shoaib) and Amrits (Chandan), and to the original story by BasharatPeer. Hope can’t be manufactured to assuage our urban guilt, imho.”
About Homebound
The film follows the story of two childhood friends from a small village in North India who dream of becoming police officers, hoping the job will bring them the respect they never had. However, as they get closer to their goal, pressures and struggles create cracks in their friendship. The story offers a moving exploration of ambition, caste dynamics, and loyalty.
Homebound premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes 2025, where it received a nine-minute standing ovation. At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, it was named second runner-up for the International People’s Choice Award and received another standing ovation.