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Vishal Jethwa reveals reaction to 'Homebound' being India's Oscar entry
21 Jan 2026

Vishal Jethwa, who plays Chandan in Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, was taken aback when it was revealed that the film is India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars.

Speaking to CNN-News18, he said he didn't expect this while working on the project.

"Honestly, we did not expect this. It's a miracle," he said.

Jethwa's initial disbelief and emotional moment
Reaction

Jethwa said he was initially in disbelief when he heard the news.

"I was, of course, happy, but I was also in disbelief."

"I was thinking, 'Is it really happening? Hope it's not fake news.' Then I realized that it is true. It took time for me to process it."

He added that his parents were emotional when they heard the news.

'Homebound' director and co-star's reactions
Team response

Jethwa revealed that Ghaywan was also in disbelief. "Neeraj sir could not believe that this has happened. He is still nervous."

He also shared how his co-star Ishaan Khatter reacted to the news.

"When it was announced that Homebound has become India's official entry for the Oscars, Ishaan was in a flight."

"He received multiple messages," he said.

Jethwa's 1st call to Karan Johar
Personal milestone

Jethwa revealed that he called filmmaker Karan Johar for the first time after the announcement.

"It was for the first time that I called Karan sir."

"Before that, I had only spoken to him via text messages. I called him up, he was very happy."

"He wished me luck. It was a lovely day," he added.

'Homebound' has already made waves internationally
International acclaim

Homebound, which also stars Janhvi Kapoor, has already made a mark on the international stage.

The movie was screened at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

It was recently shortlisted for the 2026 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category.

Meanwhile, the official nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22.