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(L-R) Vishal Jethwa, Neeraj Ghaywan, Martin Scorsese and Ishaan Khatter attend the New York screening of ‘Homebound’
| Photo Credit: X/ @ghaywan
Filmmaker Martin Scorsese hosted a special screening of Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound — India’s official entry for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The exclusive event, followed by an intimate Q&A between Scorsese and Ghaywan, drew an audience of film enthusiasts, critics, and industry veterans, marking a significant milestone in Homebound’s global journey.
Produced by Dharma Productions, Homebound has been steadily gaining international acclaim since its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The screening in New York, described by the studio as “an unforgettable celebration of cinema,” was attended by lead actors Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa — who portray best friends Shoaib and Chandan — alongside South actor Siddharth and filmmaker Mira Nair. The film, inspired by journalist Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times article, follows two friends navigating isolation, class tension, and loss during the COVID-19 lockdown.
During the post-screening conversation, Scorsese lauded Ghaywan’s work for its emotional honesty and visual storytelling. The director of Taxi Driver and The Irishman reportedly took time before the event to calm Ghaywan’s nerves, sharing a humorous anecdote about being mistaken for the “Hillside Strangler.” In a heartfelt post on X, Ghaywan reflected, “Mr. Scorsese saw I was nervous and narrated a funny anecdote just to put me at ease. That’s the generous, selfless master that he is.”
Calling the evening “the highest point” of his career, Ghaywan added, “I don’t know what the future holds for this film, but this moment — sitting across from Martin Scorsese — is the biggest award for me.”
As reported by Indian film critic Sucharita Tyagi, who attended the Q&A, Ghaywan also used the opportunity to contextualize the social and cultural foundations that inform his work. “This man just explained to Martin Scorsese what Annihilation of Caste and Dr. Ambedkar mean to modern India and its very foundations,” Tyagi wrote on X, quoting Ghaywan’s powerful remark: “Shakespeare had said ‘What’s in a name?’ Come to India and find out.”
The screening comes as Homebound begins its official Oscar campaign, with critics hailing it as one of the most introspective Indian films of the year. Scorsese’s endorsement — coupled with the film’s growing international buzz — has bolstered its position on the awards circuit, offering a strong boost to Indian representation at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Published – November 09, 2025 11:55 am IST
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Martin Scorsese hosts New York screening of Neeraj Ghaywan’s Indian Oscar entry, ‘Homebound’
