Snehashish roy
Neeraj Ghaywan’s highly anticipated film, Homebound, has finally unveiled its emotionally charged trailer, promising a poignant cinematic experience for Indian audiences. The movie, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, has already garnered significant international recognition, including a nine-minute standing ovation at the 77th Cannes Film Festival and a second runner-up position at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
The 2-minute 52-second trailer introduces Vishal Jethwa as Chandan Kumar and Ishaan Khatter as Mohammed Shoaib Ali, two best friends sharing a dream of joining the state police service. Their journey intertwines with that of Janhvi Kapoor, who, much like the two young men, seeks to escape societal limitations imposed by caste and religion. The narrative portrays their heartbreaking yet ultimately heartwarming struggle to pursue their aspirations against overwhelming odds, with their unwavering friendship providing the necessary courage.
The trailer has deeply impressed netizens, who eagerly await the film’s theatrical release on September 26. One fan lauded, “God, this looks like a tear jerker… Happy to see Vishal and Ishaan getting the right project for their calibre.” Another praised the emotional depth, writing, “Was brought to tears,,, hope this work of art gets the appreciation it deserves ❤.”
However, Janhvi Kapoor’s casting did attract some criticism, with a netizen commenting, “I just hope Jhanvi Kapoor doesn’t mar the experience of watching this movie.” Conversely, her fans rallied in support, with one remarking, “Honestly this is giving me Janhvi from Dhadak vibes, so I have hopes that she’s going to do good. She’s back to her original genre of films.”
Karan Johar is the producer of Homebound,with Martin Scorsese serving as an executive producer. This film marks Neeraj Ghaywan’s second feature film, following his critically acclaimed debut, Masaan (2015).