25 December,2025 03:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anurag Basu
The acclaimed director Anurag Basu is the latest celebrity to join the long list of admirers for Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound. He has showered praises on the Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa-starrer, stating that he "really felt small" after watching it. In a conversation with Zoom, the filmmaker shared that the film had a profound impact on him. Homebound has been shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
Talking about Homebound, Anurag Basu expressed his admiration for the director and actors, particularly Shalini Vatsa, who played Vishal Jethwa's mother, and spoke about the power of cinema to transcend barriers.
He said, "Neeraj ka film dekhke, I really felt small. I messaged him also. Cinema itna accha hai na shayad aise logon se aapki mulaqat na ho. Aise situation pe aap na jaye lekin jab aap voh jeete hai na vahan baithke film ko, it really affected me. I have never been so affected. Shalini ka chappal wala scene aata hai, main toh hil hi gaya (After watching Neeraj Ghaywan's film, I really felt small. The cinema is so good that even if you're not going to meet such people and ever be in that situation, you live that moment sitting in a theatre. It really affected me. I have never been so affected. Shalini Vatsa's chappal scene shook me)."
Anurag Basu had previously taken to his X (formerly Twitter) timeline to share his review of Homebound, calling it "a timely, aching film." On October 10th, he posted: "Saw Homebound last night and I'm still in its beautiful hangover. A timely, aching film that deserves every conversation and, yes, an Oscar nod. Neeraj ghywan made me feel wonderfully inferior as a filmmaker, IshanKhattar #Vishal JhanviKapoor Shalinivats are simply brilliant," he had tweeted.
The film has moved one step closer to an Oscar nomination by getting into the shortlist of 15 International movies.
Homebound will be competing in the 'Best International Feature Film' category with Argentina's Belen, Brazil's The Secret Agent, France's It Was Just an Accident, Germany's Sound of Falling, Iraq's The President's Cake, Japan's Kokuho, Jordan's All That's Left of You, Norway's Sentimental Value, Palestine's Palestine 36, South Korea's No Other Choice, Spain's Sirat, Switzerland's Late Shift, Taiwan's Left-Handed Girl, and Tunisia's The Voice of Hind Rajab.
The final nominees in all these categories are expected to be announced on January 22, 2026.
The 98th Academy Awards are slated to take place on March 15, 2026, with comedian Conan O'Brien returning as the host.
