Indian cinema has notched up a historic milestone with two films making the prestigious Oscars 2026 shortlists, spotlighting diverse storytelling on the global stage. ‘Homebound’, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, has advanced to the top 15 in the Best International Feature Film category from a pool of entries by 86 countries.
The poignant Hindi drama, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, follows two childhood friends from a North Indian village whose dreams of joining the police force collide with personal and societal pressures. Executive-produced by Martin Scorsese, it earned acclaim at Cannes and Toronto festivals, marking the fifth Indian film to reach this stage after ‘Mother India’, ‘Salaam Bombay!’, ‘Lagaan’, and ‘Last Film Show’.
In a groundbreaking achievement, the Marathi blockbuster ‘Dashavatar’ has become the first film from the language to enter the Oscars shortlist in the main open film category, following ‘Homebound’. Directed by Subodh Khanolkar and starring Dilip Prabhavalkar, the 2025 hit explores the life of an ageing folk theatre performer who draws on traditional Dashavatar knowledge to navigate modern challenges. The highest-grossing Marathi film of the year, now streaming on Zee5, has captivated audiences with Prabhavalkar’s transformative performance.
Final nominations will be announced on January 22, with industry observers optimistic about both films boosting India’s global cinematic footprint. As voting progresses, ‘Homebound’ competes against strong contenders like Argentina’s ‘Belen’ and France’s ‘It Was Just an Accident’, while ‘Dashavatar’ eyes recognition in its category.
