Karan Johar stands by Neeraj Ghaywan after Homebound Oscar snub

After recent Oscar successes like RRR and The Elephant Whisperers, expectations were high for Indian cinema this year. The optimism grew when Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound entered the top fifteen shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category, placing it just one step away from a final nomination at the Academy Awards.

That hope faded when the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on January twenty two. Homebound did not make the final list of five films, leaving many viewers disappointed and sparking widespread discussion across social media platforms.

Amid the disappointment, producer Karan Johar publicly expressed his support for director Neeraj Ghaywan. Soon after the nominations were revealed, Karan shared a collage from the film on his Instagram Stories along with a message that read, “Proud! Love you Neeraj Ghaywan for allowing us to bask in your light!”

Ghaywan responded shortly after by resharing the post and thanking Johar for standing by the project. “Thank you Karan Johar! You have been an absolute rock. Couldn’t have come this far without you. Love you!” he wrote, acknowledging the producer’s support during the Oscar campaign.

Audience reactions followed quickly online, with many expressing surprise at the outcome. One user wrote, “Sadly, no Oscar nomination for Homebound. It deserved to make the cut.” Another comment read, “Homebound, you were bigger than the whole sky.” Several others recalled the standing ovations the film received at international festivals.

Homebound was directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and featured Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor in key roles. The film was selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars twenty twenty six and travelled to several global festivals before the awards season.

Although it missed the final nomination, the film’s journey has been viewed by many as significant. Industry observers noted that making the top fifteen shortlist itself reflects growing international interest in Indian stories beyond mainstream formats.

For now, Homebound’s Oscar chapter has ended, but the conversations around its themes and performances continue. The response has also renewed debate about how success at global platforms is measured for Indian films. The film’s team maintains focus on future projects rather than awards alone now ahead.