November 8 was a big night for the team of Homebound, as Hollywood legend and executive producer Martin Scorsese hosted the film’s screening in New York amid its ongoing Oscar campaign. If meeting the renowned filmmaker was admittedly “the highest point” of director Neeraj Ghaywan’s career, it was a dream come true for lead actors Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa.
(From left) Neeraj Ghaywan with Siddharth
“For all of us, the appreciation for Neeraj sir’s work was the proudest moment. It reminded me that good cinema travels, no matter where it comes from. It is to Neeraj sir’s credit that Homebound has reached where it has today,” says Jethwa, proud of how the movie — India’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Academy Awards — is winning acclaim around the globe.
Mira Nair and Kal Penn
Based on Basharat Peer’s The New York Times article, Homebound tells the story of two friends who struggle to make their way back home during the pandemic-induced lockdown. As he brought the character of Chandan Kumar alive under Ghaywan’s direction, Jethwa shares that he formed an emotional connection with the filmmaker. “In Neeraj sir, I saw a version of the person I aspire to become — calm, grounded, and creatively evolved. I’ve worked with many directors, but very few manage to make you feel seen, valued, and understood at such a deep level.”