• Source:JND
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Neeraj Ghaywan’s directorial movie Homebound has been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars 2026. Recently, the movie was released on September 26 in theatres after it went through 11 cuts by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), resulting in 77 seconds of deduction from the original movie. Ishaan Khatter, who has led the film, talked about his thoughts on the censorship. The actor questioned the standards and barometers of the certification. He also pointed out the inconsistencies in how different films are judged.

In an interview with Zoom, Ishaan Khatter said, “I wasn’t directly involved in the process, so I don’t want to give a misinformed view. But as an artist, it’s difficult when alterations are made. You feel that the vision of your film can sometimes stray or get altered. Of course, the board has its own barometer, and certification is important but the question is, what are the standards and barometers?”

“Different films are often looked at with different standards. Some get leniencies despite questionable content, while others, especially social films offering a particular perspective, are scrutinised more. As artists and as audiences, we’d appreciate an agnostic approach, where different opinions are treated equally,” he added.

Also read: Homebound OTT Release: Where To Watch Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor And Vishal Jethwa’s Movie Online Post Theatrical Run?

Ishaan Khatter concluded the statement by calling for empathy and open-mindedness from both sides. The actor admitted that artists can be possessive about their work but he feels there has to be understanding from both sides.

Also read: Ananya Panday And Ishaan Khatter Make It To Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List

About Homebound

The film is about two childhood friends from a small North Indian village, who have the dream of getting a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been deprived of. As they inch closer to their dream, mounting desperation threatens the friendship that holds them together. Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Janhvi Kapoor, Shalini Vatsa, Harshika Parmar, Chandan Anand, Yogendra Vikram Singh, Dadhi R Pandey and Shreedhar Dubey in key roles. Homebound has been backed by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra under the production banner of Dharma Productions. The film is based on A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway by Basharat Peer.