Vishal Jethwa ecstatic as Homebound selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars

Actor Vishal Jethwa is celebrating a career-defining moment as his film Homebound has been chosen as India’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
Jethwa called the selection “absolutely surreal,” adding that it was the kind of news every actor dreams of. “To know that Homebound is representing India on the world’s biggest cinematic stage is beyond anything I imagined when I began my journey,” he said. Expressing gratitude to director Neeraj Ghaywan, he added, “Neeraj Sir not only believed in me but gave me a role that challenged me as an artist and transformed me as a person.”
The actor also praised co-stars Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, calling them “supportive collaborators who made every scene richer with their energy and generosity.”

Jethwa stressed that the recognition was not just personal but “a testament to the entire team’s hard work and the power of Indian storytelling.”
Directed by filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan, Homebound has earned widespread acclaim at international festivals. The film tells the moving story of two childhood friends in a North Indian village, whose bond is tested as they chase their dream of securing a police job.