Oscar Dreams: Only 3 Indian Films Nominated, Homebound Misses 2026 List

• Only three Indian films, Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988), and Lagaan (2002), have ever been nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category.
• Mother India, directed by Mehboob Khan, was India's first Oscar-nominated film, recognized at the 30th Academy Awards for its portrayal of rural Indian resilience.
• Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay! earned India's second nomination at the 61st Academy Awards, acclaimed for its realistic depiction of Mumbai's street children.
• Lagaan, starring Aamir Khan and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, secured India's most recent nomination at the 74th Academy Awards, blending sport, drama, and history.
• Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound was India's official submission for the 98th Academy Awards (2026) and made the shortlist but ultimately did not receive a final nomination.

Why It Matters: Only three Indian films have ever received Oscar nominations, with Homebound missing the 2026 list.