Karan Johar playfully sidelines Farah Khan at Homebound premiere, declares 'Dilip' as the real star

Monday night in Mumbai saw the glittering premiere of Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, a film already making waves at Cannes. The event brought together Bollywood stars including Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, Vishal Jethwa, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Hrithik Roshan, Vicky Kaushal, Farhan Akhtar, Shibani Dandekar, and Rhea Chakraborty.

The spotlight, however, went to Karan Johar and Farah Khan’s playful banter. Referring to Farah’s viral cook, Dilip, Karan joked, “I want to say no one is more popular than Dilip. Dilip zyada aage nahi chala gaeya?” Farah asked, “What about me?” to which Karan replied mock-seriously, “No, no.” The lighthearted exchange, filled with laughter, quickly went viral, highlighting the decades-long camaraderie between the filmmaker and choreographer, which began on the sets of Shah Rukh Khan’s Duplicate.

Red carpet highlights

The premiere featured several memorable moments beyond the Karan-Farah banter. Vicky Kaushal shared a warm hug with Ishaan Khatter, congratulating him on the film’s success. Hrithik Roshan turned heads in a sharp all-black outfit, while Farhan Akhtar walked the carpet with his wife, Shibani Dandekar. Rhea Chakraborty accompanied the couple, adding to the star-studded presence. Fans also noted the duo’s continued fun on social media, including Farah’s YouTube tour of Karan’s home.

Homebound and the Oscars

Beyond the red carpet, Homebound carries significant cinematic weight. The Film Federation of India recently announced it as the country’s official submission for the International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.

Inspired by Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times essay Taking Amrit Home, the film follows two childhood friends navigating life in a small North Indian town amid caste divides, religious tensions, and the hardships of pandemic lockdowns. Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa deliver strong performances, bringing the story to life.

Director Neeraj Ghaywan said he felt “deeply honored that Homebound has been chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars. Rooted in the love for our land and our people, it carries the essence of the home we all share.”