Neeraj Ghaywan On Casting Janhvi Kapoor In Homebound

Director Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, has been officially selected as India’s entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars. The film marks Neeraj’s return to direction after almost a decade and presents Janhvi in a powerful role as Sudha Bharti, a Dalit girl whose life reflects the struggles of caste and identity.

Neeraj on Casting Janhvi

Speaking about his decision to cast Janhvi Kapoor in such a role, Neeraj said it was not just about acting skills but the inner hunger to portray truth on screen. He explained that actors needed to go beyond screen presence and show real emotional depth.

To prepare, Neeraj gave the cast Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste to read and also took them to villages so they could understand the real lives of their characters.

About Homebound

Produced by Dharma Productions and backed by Martin Scorsese as executive producer, the film tells the story of two friends from a North Indian village who dream of becoming police officers.