Indian filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan returns to Cannes with his highly anticipated feature “Homebound”, set to premiere in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section of the festival. This marks Ghaywan’s first feature since his acclaimed 2015 debut “Masaan”, which also premiered at Un Certain Regard and garnered both the FIPRESCI Prize and the Avenir Prize.
The film is co-represented by Paradise City Sales and WME Independent, as it heads into international markets ahead of its world premiere.
Produced by Dharma Productions, the powerhouse behind titles like My Name Is Khan, Raazi, and Kapoor & Sons, “Homebound” is backed by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra. Co-producers include Marijke de Souza and Melita Toscan du Plantier, who also collaborated with Ghaywan on Masaan—this time bringing Martin Scorsese on board as executive producer.
The film stars a rising trio of Indian talent:
- Ishaan Khatter (The Perfect Couple)
- Vishal Jethwa (Tiger 3)
- Janhvi Kapoor (Devara Part 1)
A Tale of Friendship and Dignity
“Homebound” tells the story of two childhood friends from a rural village in North India, who pursue a police job in hopes of earning long-denied dignity and recognition. As they edge closer to their dream, desperation tests their bond in ways they never expected.
Scorsese praised the film, saying:
“Neeraj has made a beautifully crafted film that’s a significant contribution to Indian cinema.”
Ghaywan called Homebound a “deeply personal story” about the overlooked and underserved:
“It’s about people who are often unseen, and the quiet strength they carry in a world that rarely pauses for them,” he said. “I hope the film inspires us to look closer—with empathy.”
A Universal Portrait of Modern India
Paradise City Sales described Homebound as offering:
“A richly textured portrait of contemporary India that feels both deeply rooted and completely universal.”
Ad Vitam will distribute the film in France, while Paradise City Sales handles international rights and WME Independent represents the film in the U.S.