Neeraj Ghaywan’s latest directorial venture, Homebound, is set to be featured at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), joining the Gala Presentations lineup at the prestigious event’s 50th edition. Scheduled to take place from September 4 to 14, the festival will highlight a range of international cinema, with Homebound being one of the key Indian entries.
The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa, and has already made waves globally with its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival under the Un Certain Regard section. Produced by Dharma Productions, Homebound marks another high-profile outing for Karan Johar’s banner. Johar shared his excitement on Instagram, writing, “Thrilled to be part of TIFF 2025 with Homebound in the Gala Presentations. It’s always an honour for Dharma to be on this global stage!”
Homebound is executive produced by the legendary Martin Scorsese, who was drawn to the project after being introduced to Ghaywan’s work through his 2015 debut film Masaan. Speaking earlier this year, Scorsese praised Ghaywan’s storytelling, saying, “Neeraj has made a beautifully crafted film that’s a significant contribution to Indian cinema.” The movie explores the story of two childhood friends from a small North Indian village, played by Khatter and Jethwa, who are chasing their dream of securing a police job, a role they see as a symbol of dignity and respect. As they get closer to their goal, personal and social tensions begin to challenge their bond and shared vision.
Inspired by journalist Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times essay Taking Amrit Home, the film delves into themes of friendship, ambition, and identity in the context of modern India. Also competing in TIFF’s Gala Presentations are major international titles such as Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet and Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman, placing Homebound alongside an impressive global roster. With its Cannes acclaim and upcoming Toronto screening, Homebound is quickly becoming one of India’s most anticipated cinematic exports of the year.
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