At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Indian filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan's latest feature, Homebound, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section to resounding acclaim, earning a nine-minute standing ovation from the audience. This emotional moment saw Ghaywan embracing producer Karan Johar, visibly moved by the reception. The film stars Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa, with Kapoor's performance noted as a transformative milestone in her career.
Indian filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan's latest film, Homebound, premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, earning a remarkable nine-minute standing ovation. The film stars Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter as two childhood friends from rural North India who aspire to join the police force to gain societal respect. As they approach their goal, their friendship faces severe tests due to mounting desperation. The emotional response from the audience led to heartfelt moments among the cast and crew, including a group hug shared by Kapoor, Khatter, Ghaywan, and producer Karan Johar.
Homebound is currently screening at film festivals and is expected to release on streaming platforms later this year.Noteworthy Works by Neeraj Ghaywan
- Masaan (2015)
- Plot: Set in Varanasi, the film interweaves the lives of four individuals grappling with love, loss, and societal pressures.
Ghaywan's directorial debut, Masaan, is a poignant exploration of life, death, and societal norms set in Varanasi. The film introduced Vicky Kaushal in his first leading role and was lauded for its sensitive storytelling. It premiered at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section, winning the FIPRESCI Prize and the Prix de l'Avenir award. - Cast: Richa Chadda, Vicky Kaushal, Shweta Tripathi, Sanjay Mishra
- Accolades: Screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, winning two awards.
- Where to Watch: Available on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube
- Plot: Set in Varanasi, the film interweaves the lives of four individuals grappling with love, loss, and societal pressures.
- Juice (2017)
- Plot: A housewife confronts patriarchal norms during a domestic gathering, challenging gender roles within her home.
This short film stars Shefali Shah as Manju Singh, a woman navigating the gender dynamics of a domestic gathering. Through its 15-minute runtime, Juice offers a sharp critique of patriarchal norms and was celebrated for its impactful narrative.
- Plot: A housewife confronts patriarchal norms during a domestic gathering, challenging gender roles within her home.
- Cast: Shefali Shah, Manish Chaudhari
- Accolades: Won Best Short Film (Fiction) and Best Actress in a Short Film for Shefali Shah at the 63rd Filmfare Awards.
- Where to Watch: Watch the full short film on YouTube.
- Geeli Pucchi – Ajeeb Daastaans (2021)
- Plot: A Dalit factory worker and an upper-caste colleague navigate a complex relationship amidst caste and gender dynamics.
Part of Netflix's anthology Ajeeb Daastaans, Ghaywan's segment Geeli Pucchi delves into the complexities of caste and sexuality. Featuring Konkona Sen Sharma and Aditi Rao Hydari, the film portrays the nuanced relationship between two women from different social backgrounds.
- Plot: A Dalit factory worker and an upper-caste colleague navigate a complex relationship amidst caste and gender dynamics.
- Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari
- Accolades: Part of the Netflix anthology Ajeeb Daastaans, which received critical acclaim for its storytelling.
- Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix
- Made in Heaven Season 2 (2023)
- Plot: A Dalit woman embraces her identity during her inter-caste wedding, challenging societal norms.
In the second season of Amazon Prime's Made in Heaven, Ghaywan directed an episode focusing on a Dalit wedding, starring Radhika Apte as Pallavi Menke. The episode was praised for its authentic representation of caste dynamics and sparked meaningful conversations about social identity in contemporary India.
- Plot: A Dalit woman embraces her identity during her inter-caste wedding, challenging societal norms.
- Cast: Radhika Apte
- Accolades: Praised for its depiction of caste dynamics and representation.
- Where to Watch: Available on Amazon Prime Video.
Neeraj Ghaywan's body of work reflects a commitment to telling stories that challenge societal norms and highlight underrepresented voices. From his debut with Masaan to the recent success of Homebound, Ghaywan continues to make significant contributions to Indian cinema, both in terms of critical acclaim and social impact.