Film 'Homebound' makes MP Oscar bound again, for 2nd year in a row

Madhya Pradesh has once again found itself on the global cinema stage, as Homebound extensively shot in Bhopal and its surrounding areas has been selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026). The announcement marks the second consecutive year that a film shot in the state has earned this honor, after Laapataa Ladies represented India at the Oscars in 2024.Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav hailed the selection as “a proud moment not just for the film fraternity, but for the entire state.” Congratulating the cast and crew, he said, “The selection of Homebound proves that Madhya Pradesh’s film tourism policies are delivering results. Our single-window system, transparent permissions, and attractive financial incentives have made MP a premier destination for filmmakers worldwide.”
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. The film is adapted from journalist Basharat Peer’s article “A Friendship, A Pandemic & A Death Beside The Highway”, documenting the struggles of two migrant workers — a Muslim and a Dalit man — during the COVID-19 lockdown. Earlier this year, the film won acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival.The story has roots in a 2020 incident widely reported by the media, where migrant worker Mohd Yakoob stayed by the side of his dying friend Amrit Kumar during the peak of the migrant crisis.
The Homebound team shot across dozens of local landmarks, including Raisen Bridge, Gond Mahal, ISBT Bhopal, SAM and MVM colleges, ,Jumerati, Jawahar Bal Udhyan Sehore Railway Station, Magarkheda and Chhapri villages, Tagore school and the Sehore Collectorate. By capturing everyday backdrops in cinematic frames, the film highlights the depth of Madhya Pradesh’s landscape as a shooting hub.
According to information, since the introduction of the Madhya Pradesh Film Tourism Policy, about 350 films and web series have been shot in the state. Of these, 12 Hindi films, one Telugu film, and six web series have received direct financial assistance amounting to over Rs24 crore. Last year, MP was also recognized with the “Most Film-Friendly State” Award by the Government of India.
Principal Secretary for Culture and Tourism, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, credited the success to a mix of diverse locales, local talent, and streamlined government support. “Everything has been put in the right place. With Homebound, the world will see MP not just as a filming location, but as a place of story, soul, and possibility,” he said.He added that the state is also working with India’s Producers’ Guild and international film bodies to attract more projects, create jobs, and generate foreign exchange. “Along with economic dividends, our talented youth will get a platform, and MP’s historic and natural locales will receive recognition across the world,” Shukla noted.

(Asstt.Editor)