Is Ananya Panday's Praise for Neeraj Ghaywan Justified?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ananya Panday praises Neeraj Ghaywan for his direction.
- “Homebound” is India's official entry for the Oscars.
- The film explores themes of friendship and ambition.
- It received acclaim at Cannes 2025.
- Stars include Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter.
Mumbai, Sep 20 (NationPress) Bollywood actress Ananya Panday has expressed her admiration for Neeraj Ghaywan, a filmmaker who has won a National Award, as his latest film “Homebound” has been selected as India's official submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
On her Instagram stories, Ananya showcased the announcement poster from Dharma Productions, which highlighted “India’s official entry for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards: Homebound”.
She captioned the post: “Wow!! This is incredible congratulations to the entire team. I can't wait to watch this beautiful heartbreaking film in cinemas. Everything that you make is a master class @neeraj.ghaywan sir.”
The announcement was made on Friday, with Karan Johar revealing that the production “Homebound” has been chosen as India's entry for the Oscars 2026.
This film, produced by Dharma Productions, tells the story of two childhood friends from a small village in North India who aspire to become police officers, believing that the profession will earn them the respect they’ve long desired. However, as they draw closer to their ambition, external pressures threaten their friendship. The cast includes Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa.
In a statement, Ghaywan expressed his deep honor at “Homebound” being selected as India's official Oscars entry, stating, “Rooted in the love for our land and our people, it carries the essence of the home we all share. To take our stories to the world and represent India at one of the biggest global stages for cinema is both humbling and a matter of pride, and for this I’m deeply grateful.”
“Homebound” made its debut at the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes 2025, where it received a nine-minute standing ovation.
Meanwhile, Ananya is preparing for her upcoming projects, including “Chand Mera Dil” alongside Lakshya Lalwani and “Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri” opposite Kartik Aaryan.
The romantic drama “Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri”, filmed across Croatia and Rajasthan, also features renowned actors Jackie Shroff and Neena Gupta in significant roles.