Karan Johar shows gratitude as Shah Rukh Khan calls Homebound ‘gentle, honest, soulful’

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar expressed his gratitude to Shah Rukh Khan after the superstar lauded his latest production, Homebound, which has been selected as India’s official entry for the upcoming Academy Awards.

On Wednesday, SRK took to social media to share his thoughts on the film. He wrote, “#Homebound is gentle, honest and soulful. Lots of love and big hugs to the phenomenal team for creating something so human and engaging. You have won hearts world over by making something truly special! @ghaywan #Ishaan Khatter @vishaljethwa06 #JanhviKapoor #Karan Johar @adarpoonawalla @apoorvamehta18.”

Karan Johar responded via Instagram Stories, sharing a screenshot of SRK’s post. He wrote, “Bhai, love you and thank you so much for supporting our film, means the world. So glad you watched it and giving you all the love right back.”

Homebound explores themes of friendship, dignity, and social inequalities in contemporary India. The story follows two childhood friends, one Dalit and one Muslim, from a small North Indian village who aspire to join the police force, hoping it will bring them the respect society has long denied. As they chase their dreams, they confront systemic caste and religious biases that test both their ambitions and their friendship.

The narrative is inspired by a real-life incident documented in a 2020 New York Times article, highlighting the migrant crisis during the COVID-19 lockdown. The film premiered in the “Un Certain Regard” section at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, where it received a standing ovation lasting several minutes, signalling its strong emotional impact on audiences.

The Oscar submission is notable because India has seen only a few films nominated or winning in the “Best International Feature” category over the years. The selection of Homebound underlines the growing recognition of socially relevant cinema from the country.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for his next project, King, keeping audiences eager to see him back on screen.

What this exchange between Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan highlights is not just professional camaraderie but also the mutual respect among Bollywood peers for meaningful, content-driven cinema.