Martin Scorsese has boarded Indian filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s Cannes Un Certain Regard selection title “Homebound” as an executive producer, Variety has confirmed.
The film is produced by multihyphenate Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. It stars Ishaan Khatter (“The Perfect Couple”), Janhvi Kapoor (“Devara Part 1”) and Vishal Jethwa (“Tiger 3”).
In the film, desperate to break free from the weight of their marginalized identities, two childhood friends from a North Indian village – Shoaib Ali (Khatter) and Chandan Kumar (Jethwa) – push against a world stacked against them. Convinced that a police constable’s job will bring them the dignity they’ve long been denied, they chase it with urgency and hope. Chandan meets Sudha Bharti (Kapoor), who urges him to pursue education instead. Meanwhile Shoaib struggles with his financial burdens worsened by his father’s ailment. Bound by brotherhood, they confront the disillusionment of a system that failed them.
“Homebound” is co-produced by Mélita Toscan du Plantier, who also produced Ghaywan’s “Masaan,” which debuted at Cannes in 2015 and won the Avenir and Fipresci prizes in the Un Certain regard strand.
“I have seen Neeraj’s first film ‘Masaan’ in 2015 and I loved it, so when Mélita Toscan du Plantier sent me the project of his second film, I was curious. I loved the story, the culture and was willing to help. Neeraj has made a beautifully crafted film that’s a significant contribution to Indian cinema. I am glad the movie is an official selection at Un Certain Regard in Cannes this year,” Scorsese said in a statement shared by Johar on his Instagram stories.
“‘Homebound’ is an extraordinary confluence of talent, vision, and storytelling at its finest. Having @martinscorsese_ , a true legend of cinema, lend his wisdom and support to Neeraj’s remarkable vision elevates our film to a rare artistic height,” Johar posted on Instagram. “With an incredibly gifted cast and the prestigious stage of Cannes, we eagerly look forward to sharing ‘Homebound’s powerful story with audiences around the world.”
Scorsese is no stranger to Indian cinema with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project founded by him restoring Indian classics – most recently 1977’s “Ghatashraddha,” which bowed at Venice Classics last year.
“I am still in disbelief! To have an icon like Martin Scorsese lend his name to our film, #Homebound, is an honour beyond words. I’m deeply grateful to our co-producer Mélita Toscan, who introduced us to him,” Ghaywan posted on X.
“Mr. Scorsese mentored us through the screenplay and multiple rounds of editing. He listened with care, understood the cultural context, and offered thoughtful, incisive notes each time. His kindness and commitment are extraordinary, and to have him nurture our film has been both a rare privilege and a profoundly humbling experience,” Ghaywan added.
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