Homebound Day 2 Box Office: Oscar Entry Struggles to Impress Domestically

Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, has received a lukewarm response at the Indian box office. According to Sacnilk.com, the film has earned just ₹80 lakh domestically after two days.

On Friday, the film collected ₹30 lakh, followed by ₹50 lakh on Saturday. By comparison, Ishaan Khatter’s Dhadak earned ₹11.04 crore on its second day, while Phone Bhoot made ₹2.75 crore. Vishal Jethwa’s Salaam Venky had opened at ₹55 lakh on day two.

Critical Reception
The Hindustan Times praised the performances, writing: “Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter bring vulnerability to their roles, their chemistry as childhood friends fully convincing. Ishaan’s emotional breakdown hits hard, while Vishal’s turn in the climax lingers. Janhvi Kapoor delivers an earnest performance, and Shalini Vatsa, as Chandan’s mother, quietly grounds the film.”

The review added, “Homebound is not just a film about friendship, caste, or migration. It is a reminder of humanity brought to its knees by a pandemic, and of the invisible lives that bore the heaviest weight in our country.”

About the Film
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, Homebound has been selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature category at the Oscars. The film is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer’s article Taking Amrit Home and explores the childhood friendship between a Muslim and a Dalit aspiring for a police career that promises dignity denied by societal biases.

Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, with Martin Scorsese as executive producer, Homebound premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.