Box Office: Homebound struggles despite Oscar buzz

Neeraj Ghaywan’s latest film Homebound has finally reached Indian theatres after traveling the international festival circuit. Despite the anticipation, the film’s first-day figures in India remained modest.

Industry estimates suggest the film collected around Rs 29 lakh on day one. For its leading cast members Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, this marks a career-low opening compared with their previous releases.

A Limited Release Strategy

Homebound reached roughly 200 to 225 screens across the country. Trade observers point out that the release was intentionally small, possibly to gauge audience response before expanding its reach. The restrained rollout was in line with the film’s modest production scale, with reports placing its total budget, including promotions, at about Rs 25 crore.

Past Benchmarks for the Actors

The cast members have seen stronger starts in the past. Khatter and Kapoor debuted together with Dhadak, which had opened strongly. Jethwa, who featured in Salaam Venky, also recorded higher numbers on opening day than what Homebound managed. The current performance highlights the challenges faced by offbeat projects despite critical attention.

The Road To Release

The film’s path to theatres was not entirely smooth. Sources note that the Central Board of Film Certification demanded multiple changes before granting clearance. This was despite the fact that Homebound had already screened at major global festivals, including Cannes and Toronto, earning recognition there.

An Oscar Connection

In an important development, Homebound has been selected as India’s official submission for the Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards. The nomination puts the film on a different global platform, which may influence how audiences perceive it in the coming weeks.

Producer's Track Record

The film continues Dharma Productions’ interest in stories rooted in social contexts. Karan Johar previously backed projects in this space, such as Dhadak and its follow-up Dhadak 2. While the first was a commercial hit, the second fell short of expectations. With Homebound, the production house appears to be testing the waters once again, this time under the guidance of Neeraj Ghaywan, with Martin Scorsese attached as executive producer.

Whether the film’s recognition abroad will help it recover commercially remains to be seen.