‘Homebound’, India’s official entry to the Oscars, was off to a slow start at the domestic box office despite critical buzz and star power. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and backed by Dharma Productions, the film hit theatres on Friday, September 26, but has struggled to attract audiences.
Box office collection Day 2
According to sacnilk, the film on Day 1, collected an estimated Rs 30 lakh net and on Saturday, saw some growth at the ticket windows. Early estimates suggest that the film managed around Rs 50 lakh on Day 2, taking its total to just around Rs 80 lakh.
The movie recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 17.12% on Saturday, with morning shows as low as 10.35%.With this turnout, the movie is struggling to cross the Rs 1 crore mark.
Homebound vs The Lunchbox
While comparisons have been drawn to Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox, which found both domestic and international acclaim despite lacking marquee names. The movie even went on to cross the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office. ‘Homebound’ has so far underperformed in both markets. Trade analysts note that limited screen count in India and weak overseas response may have contributed to its modest start.The coming weekdays will be crucial for Homebound, as it attempts to build momentum not only at the box office but also on the international stage ahead of awards season.
Homebound vs One Battle After Another
The film’s collections have not been able to match the earnings of the Hollywood release One Battle After Another. This film is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall in key roles, managed to zoom ahead of the Bollywood film and earn an estimated Rs 1.25 crore at the box office.
About the plot
Starring Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa, the drama tells the story of two childhood friends from a small North Indian village who dream of becoming police officers, hoping the job will earn them the respect they lacked. But as they edge closer to their goal, mounting pressure and personal struggles test their friendship. The film also features Harshika Parmar, Shalini Vatsa, Chandan K Anand, and Vijay Vikram Singh in pivotal roles.
Director Neeraj on film being India’s official Oscar entry
Speaking about the honour of representing India at the Oscars, director Neeraj Ghaywan said, “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.”
