Homebound’s Oscar Buzz Gets No Love: Are Makers Skimpin’ on the Hype Train?

Yo, Homebound, India’s big Oscar bet for 2026, is straight-up vibin’ with prestige, but its theatrical run is quieter than a ninja in flip-flops! Droppin’ on September 26, 2025, this Neeraj Ghaywan banger—starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor—slayed at Cannes with a nine-minute standing O and snagged second runner-up at TIFF’s People’s Choice. Backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma and Scorsese’s clout, it’s got all the makings of a global glow-up. But hold up—two days in (as of September 28, 2025, 1:17 PM IST), it’s only scraped ₹80 lakh nett on a measly 200-225 screens, with a Day 1 snooze of ₹29-30 lakh. Where’s the promo pizzazz? No trailer drops, no star-studded Insta reels, no Bigg Boss plugs—just crickets. Are Dharma and co. too spooked to splurge on this niche migrant-caste saga, scared it won’t rake in the moolah? Meanwhile, Ishaan and Janhvi could be global superstars if the makers crank the hype machine. Let’s unpack this Bollywood fumble in funky style!This ain’t your masala popcorn flick—Homebound dives deep, riffin’ off Basharat Peer’s 2020 essay on a migrant worker’s lockdown tragedy, mixin’ caste clashes and Muslim-targeted shade with raw, no-song grit. Critics are losin’ it—100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Anupama Chopra callin’ it a “stunner,” and Variety hypin’ Ishaan’s “endearing” edge and Janhvi’s rural realness. But X is buzzin’ with shade: one user’s yellin’ “disaster” at the ₹20-30 lakh opener, while another’s like, “This ain’t Jawan, it’s Cannes gold!” Dharma’s playin’ it safe, droppin’ it on 131 Delhi-NCR screens and 103 in Mumbai, bankin’ on word-of-mouth while sidesteppin’ a clash with their own Sunny Sanskari next week. Why so shy? The niche vibe—think Masaan meets Article 15—ain’t pullin’ multiplex crowds, and 11 CBFC cuts toned down the spicy bits, maybe spookin’ the hype budget.Makers seem shook about recovery. With a tiny budget (unconfirmed, but festival-lean), ₹80 lakh in two days is grim—Khatter’s worst since Dhadak’s ₹8.71 crore opener, and Janhvi’s outdone by Dhadak 2. Telugu beast They Call Him OG stole ₹104 crore same weekend, leavin’ Homebound in the dust. A Mumbai premiere flexed Hrithik and Vicky Kaushal, and Janhvi’s Sridevi-inspired saree went viral, but no pan-India promo tour? Nada. X’s quiet too—pre-release hype fizzled, with “flop” taunts drownin’ out praise. Bet’s on Netflix (November 2025 drop) for global views, banking on Oscar shortlist vibes by December 16.But yo, Ishaan and Janhvi could slay globally! Their raw, no-filter roles scream breakout—think Vicky Kaushal post-Masaan. Scorsese’s nod and Cannes heat could land them Hollywood gigs, but only if Dharma drops serious coin on ads—diaspora screenings, Emmy-style campaigns, the works. A nomination (January 22, 2026 reveal) could spark a Lagaan-style rerun, maybe ₹50 crore global. Skimpin’ now risks buryin’ a gem—trade folks say a promo push could’ve hit ₹5-10 crore Week 1. So, what’s good? Let Homebound shine or let it Netflix-and-chill? Drop your vibe—hype it or skip it?