India, Sept. 23 -- Director Neeraj Ghaywan's drama Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, has made waves on the international festival circuit. Now, it's India's official Oscar 2026 submission for Best International Feature Film. Ishaan is undeniably over the moon, still riding the high of this milestone. The 29-year-old recaps the moments that led to him learning of this development: "Jab news aayi, main hawa mein ud raha tha, quite literally. I was on a flight back from New York to Mumbai. I lost connection for the duration, and it came back to a barrage of messages on my phone, and people calling me. I couldn't understand what was going on, and for the very first time in these two years, Neeraj gave me a gaali: 'Saale, tu phone kyun nahin utha raha?' When I landed, I couldn't fathom what was happening. Main hawa mein ud raha tha, and abhi bhi neeche aa raha hun dheere dheere." The actor is proud of Homebound's reception and the emotional connection it's created, signs he believes bode well for its Oscar journey. "It's been a long time since we've seen a collective sentiment for a film that feels so deserving," he tells us. Explaining why the film means so much to him, he says it captures "empathy and compassion at a time where we're starting to see the world getting more intolerant." He adds, "Now, all the accolades and the Oscar selection are just all a bonus. We couldn't have asked for anything more than this. TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) is arguably the most prestigious North American film festival, while Cannes is like the Mecca of films. Now, with the Academy selection, it's like we have completed the trifecta."...