After a roaring reception at Cannes, Neeraj Ghaywan’s 'Homebound' gears up for its North American premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), further cementing its global impact.
Fresh off a nine-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, Homebound, helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan, is now headed to TIFF 2025 in the Gala Presentations category -one of the most prestigious slots at the festival.
Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, the film stars Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa in a poignant tale of resilience, friendship, and fractured dreams. Set in a small village in North India, Homebound follows two childhood friends, Shoaib Ali (Khatter) and Chandan Kumar (Jethwa) as they chase the elusive dream of becoming police constables, hoping it will pull them out of social and economic obscurity.
Their aspirations, however, collide with harsh systemic realities and personal dilemmas. While Shoaib grapples with poverty and his father’s failing health, Chandan is steered toward a different path by Sudha Bharti (Kapoor), a spirited woman who sees education as a more empowering escape route.
The film’s growing buzz has also been bolstered by the backing of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who came on board as an executive producer.
Known more for its glitzy, urban narratives, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions has taken a striking creative turn with Homebound. Sharing the TIFF announcement on Instagram, Johar wrote, “Extremely thrilled and elated to be a part of this prestigious festival, another time for us at Dharma.”
Set to screen at TIFF between September 4–14, 2025, Homebound joins a competitive slate in the festival’s 50th edition. For now, Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound is doing exactly what great cinema should—sparking dialogue, crossing borders, and bringing silenced stories into the spotlight.
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