Dharma Productions released the first trailer of Homebound on Wednesday. The film will hit theatres on September 26. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, this is his second feature after the critically acclaimed Masaan. Over the past decade, Ghaywan also directed popular shows like Made in Heaven and Sacred Games, and the short film Geeli Pucchi.
Homebound has already been praised at festivals, premiering at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section and finishing as second runner-up in the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025.
What’s In Homebound Trailer?
The trailer introduces childhood friends Mohammed Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan Kumar (Vishal Jethwa) from Uttar Pradesh. Both belong to marginalised communities and dream of escaping the limits society has placed on them. When they join the workforce, they face daily discrimination.
Shoaib (an office boy in an MNC) is targeted for his religion, while Chandan (a Dalit) faces constant caste-based jibes. The trailer shows their struggles as they prepare for police recruitment exams, hoping that a government job and a uniform will earn them respect.
Janhvi Kapoor appears in a supporting role as a PhD aspirant and close friend of Shoaib and Chandan. Like them, she fights social restrictions and wants to make her own way despite the challenges.
Watch Homebound Trailer
More About The Film
Homebound is inspired by a New York Times article by Kashmiri writer Basharat Peer. It was based on a photograph of two friends during the early days of the 2020 pandemic. The image showed one friend cradling the other after he fainted from heat while walking 1,500 kilometres from Gujarat to Uttar Pradesh before the lockdown. The film does not focus directly on the pandemic, but the trailer hints at it, showing crowds on highways and police chasing people wearing masks.
The trailer mainly highlights the friendship and courage of Shoaib and Chandan. It shows how they endure societal injustice, casual cruelty, and discrimination. However, some viewers feel the trailer focuses more on dramatic visuals than on the depth of the characters and storytelling.
Co-produced by Karan Johar and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Homebound has created strong buzz ahead of its release. Ishaan and Janhvi reunite after Dhadak (2018), which adds to the excitement, especially as the film tackles themes of caste oppression and social inequality.
Homebound releases in India on September 26.
