Homebound on OTT: Where to watch Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor's movie online
Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound has quietly but steadily emerged as one of the most talked-about Indian films on the global circuit. Today, the film didn't make the final cut after its official entry to the Oscars from India for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. The film’s journey has been shaped by strong festival responses.
Homebound premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it drew attention for its grounded storytelling and emotional depth. This was followed by a screening at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it reportedly received a standing ovation. These moments helped the film build momentum well before its planned theatrical release in India on September 26, 2025.
Where to watch Homebound online
For viewers already looking to watch it online, Homebound is currently streaming on Netflix. The streaming platform was confirmed through the film’s official posters, putting to rest speculation about its OTT destination. The makers announced it too.
Story, cast and inspiration
Starring Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa, Homebound is set in rural North India during the COVID-19 pandemic. At its core, the film tells the story of two childhood friends who dream of joining the police force as a way out of poverty and systemic discrimination. As their journey unfolds, religious tensions, caste realities and the harshness of the pandemic begin to test their bond and beliefs.
The film is based on journalist Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times article, originally titled Taking Amrit Home, later retitled A Friendship, a Pandemic, and a Death Beside the Highway. Neeraj Ghaywan adapts this real-life-inspired narrative into a deeply personal cinematic experience.
Speaking about the film’s Oscar selection, the director told Variety that being chosen as India’s official entry was deeply humbling. He described Homebound as a story rooted in love for the land and its people, and said taking such a narrative to a global platform like the Oscars was both an honour and a responsibility.
Produced by Dharma Productions, with Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra backing the project, Homebound has already earned major accolades. It won Best Film and Best Director for Neeraj Ghaywan at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
Homebound premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it drew attention for its grounded storytelling and emotional depth. This was followed by a screening at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it reportedly received a standing ovation. These moments helped the film build momentum well before its planned theatrical release in India on September 26, 2025.
Where to watch Homebound online
For viewers already looking to watch it online, Homebound is currently streaming on Netflix. The streaming platform was confirmed through the film’s official posters, putting to rest speculation about its OTT destination. The makers announced it too.
Story, cast and inspiration
Starring Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa, Homebound is set in rural North India during the COVID-19 pandemic. At its core, the film tells the story of two childhood friends who dream of joining the police force as a way out of poverty and systemic discrimination. As their journey unfolds, religious tensions, caste realities and the harshness of the pandemic begin to test their bond and beliefs.
The film is based on journalist Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times article, originally titled Taking Amrit Home, later retitled A Friendship, a Pandemic, and a Death Beside the Highway. Neeraj Ghaywan adapts this real-life-inspired narrative into a deeply personal cinematic experience.
Speaking about the film’s Oscar selection, the director told Variety that being chosen as India’s official entry was deeply humbling. He described Homebound as a story rooted in love for the land and its people, and said taking such a narrative to a global platform like the Oscars was both an honour and a responsibility.
Produced by Dharma Productions, with Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra backing the project, Homebound has already earned major accolades. It won Best Film and Best Director for Neeraj Ghaywan at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
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