India, Sept. 22 -- Director Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, has officially been selected as India's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars. The film marks Ghaywan's return to direction after nearly a decade, and features Janhvi Kapoor in a transformative role as Sudha Bharti, a Dalit girl whose story reflects the layered realities of caste and identity in India.

At a recent event for Homebound, Ghaywan addressed the conversations around casting Janhvi in a Dalit role, a choice that has sparked questions and debate. The filmmaker, known for his socially conscious cinema, said, "In India, we have people from all walks of life. What I was searching for wasn't j...