Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound has travelled a long road to finally make it to the big screen. Backed by Dharma Productions and featuring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, the film has now been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) — but only after going through a string of changes. It was release in theatres nationwide today, 26 September 2025.
As per India Today, the Examining Committee initially raised several objections, prompting the Revising Committee to step in. On 12 September, the Revising Committee passed the film with a U/A 16+ certificate, but not without demanding 11 modifications. In total, 77 seconds of footage was cut.
The edits ranged from muting or altering words in six instances to removing small snippets of dialogue and visuals.
A five-second line, “Aloo gobhi khaate hai”, was removed, as was a fleeting shot of a man performing puja. At one point, the word “gyaan” was deleted, while a 21-minute scene saw a dialogue muted and replaced with a substitute shot.
32 seconds of dialogue and images were cut during a tense cricket match scene, which was the most significant cut.
Other adjustments included cutting a 16-second portion, a 20-second shot, muting a brief two-second dialogue, and altering visuals of a passing car. After all these changes, the final runtime stands at 122 minutes (2 hours and 2 minutes).
Also Read: Vishal Jethwa gets teary-eyed at Mumbai premiere of Homebound, watch here
Even as the censors demanded these changes, Homebound has been winning hearts internationally. It premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category and has since been chosen as India’s official entry for the Oscars in the Best International Feature category.
A part of review by Moneycontrol read, "This sensitive drama recounts the struggles of two friends during extraordinary circumstances, giving the story a grounded and personal touch. Unlike big commercial dramas, the film focuses on small moments—regular conversations, pauses that carry emotional weight, and decisions that reveal character. Every scene is layered with subtle emotion, allowing the audience to see the characters’ lives from the inside. The film’s strength lies in its realism and its ability to make the audience care deeply about ordinary lives. Through this film, Ghaywan delivers a sharp commentary on how caste discrimination remains deeply rooted in society."
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