Homebound enters Cannes Film Festival 2025, marking Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter's return together

Neeraj Ghaywan is all set to return to the international stage with Homebound, his second feature film. This time, he’s bringing along Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, who are reuniting onscreen after a long gap of seven years since Dhadak. The film has been selected for the ‘Un Certain Regard’ category at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2025.

The emotional drama also stars Vishal Jethwa and is backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, making it a strong Indian entry. Karan Johar shared his excitement on Instagram and wrote, “HOMEBOUND, our soulful story directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, has been selected for the illustrious Festival De Cannes!” He added, “This moment is a testament to the power of Indian cinema, showcasing our unique stories, talents, and perspectives to the world… this achievement is not just a win for our film industry, but a beacon of hope for emerging filmmakers.”

Janhvi Kapoor, who plays a central character, shared her happiness too. “A moment where Indian cinema takes over the world. We are honoured to announce that #Homebound makes its way to the official selection at the 78th edition of the Festival De Cannes in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ category. Our hearts are full and we can’t wait to show you all this journey on the big screens!”

The announcement has created buzz among fans, especially because Janhvi and Ishaan are reuniting after their debut in Dhadak, which had received both love and media attention. There were also dating rumours during their first film together, which adds more curiosity to their latest project.

Neeraj Ghaywan first made his Cannes debut in 2015 with Masaan, a critically acclaimed film that starred Vicky Kaushal and Richa Chadha. Masaan went on to win both the Special Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize at the festival.

Apart from Homebound, this year’s Un Certain Regard category includes Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great and films by directors like Morad Mostafa and Akinola Davies Jr.

The Cannes Film Festival 2025 will take place from May 13 to May 24, with Juliette Binoche as the jury president.