Nearly a decade after his breakout debut, Neeraj Ghaywan returns to the Cannes Film Festival with Homebound, a deeply personal and socially grounded drama premiering in the Un Certain Regard section. The film signals both a creative homecoming and a continuation of Ghaywan’s cinematic journey, rooted in empathy, realism, and layered storytelling.
Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, with a reported cameo by Janhvi Kapoor, and marks a significant step in Ghaywan’s evolution as a filmmaker. While plot details remain under wraps, early festival buzz suggests the film delves into themes of identity, belonging, and the emotional weight of returning to one’s roots.
The Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, known for showcasing bold and emerging voices in global cinema, is a fitting platform for Ghaywan’s latest. It places Homebound among a compelling 2025 slate that includes Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great, *Akinola Davies Jr’s My Father’s Shadow, and *Diego Céspedes’ The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo.
Aur @ghaywan ki @Festival_Cannes meiN waapasi!
— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 10, 2025
HOMEBOUND selected in Un Certain Regard. Poore 10 saal lagte haiN iss shehar meiN apne mann ki picture banaane meiN aksar.
Congratulations to the entire team and producers Karan Johar + @somenmishra0. pic.twitter.com/XtS4e97d9i
For Ghaywan, the Cannes return is more than symbolic. His first feature, Masaan (2015), co-written with lyricist and screenwriter Varun Grover, won the FIPRESCI Prize and a Prix de l’Avenir in the same section. The film’s blend of intimate storytelling and socio-cultural commentary established Ghaywan as a powerful new voice in Indian cinema. Masaan has since become a cult classic, frequently cited for its emotional depth, visual lyricism, and quiet defiance.
Born in Hyderabad to Maharashtrian parents in 1980, Ghaywan’s journey into film was unconventional. After studying engineering and completing an MBA in marketing, he spent several years working in the corporate sector. His early passion for cinema led him to film criticism, where his writing caught the attention of director Anurag Kashyap. Ghaywan went on to assist Kashyap on acclaimed projects like Gangs of Wasseypur and Ugly—experiences he often credits for shaping his approach to filmmaking.
His work since has been marked by a fearless commitment to social truth, from directing award-winning short films to contributing to Netflix’s Sacred Games and Made in Heaven. In each project, Ghaywan has championed stories of marginalised voices, exploring caste, class, gender, and generational trauma with nuance and care.
Homebound is co-written by Ghaywan and longtime collaborator Varun Grover, and produced by Somesh Mishra, Varun Grover, and Dharma Productions. While the film’s premiere at Cannes is cause for celebration, it also reaffirms something deeper: that Indian independent cinema, when crafted with honesty and vision, continues to find a powerful place on the world stage.
With Homebound, Ghaywan isn’t just returning to Cannes. He’s continuing his mission to reflect India’s complexities through a lens that is as poetic as it is unflinching.
