At a time when director Neeraj Ghaywan’s critically acclaimed drama Homebound is flying high after being selected as India’s official entry for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, it has received a fresh shot in the arm from a special someone, making its visuals even more vibrant. Widely regarded as one of the finest Bollywood movies of the year, Homebound recently received an endorsement from none other than Shah Rukh Khan, who took to social media on Wednesday to commend the film.

In a sweet and tender note on X (formerly Twitter), Bollywood’s Baadshah wrote, “Homebound is gentle, honest and soulful. Lots of love and big hugs to the phenomenal team for creating something so human and engaging. You have won hearts world over by making something truly special.” He also tagged director Neeraj, actors Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, as well as the movie’s co-producers Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla and Apoorva Mehta, in the post.

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Expressing his gratitude for Shah Rukh Khan’s kind gesture, Neeraj replied on X, quoting an iconic line from the superstar’s Swades (2004): “Thank you, @iamsrk! This means the world to me! Apne hi paani mein pighal jaana barph ka muqaddar hota hai (It is the fate of ice to melt in its own water).”

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Scripted by the director himself based on a 2020 New York Times article by journalist-author Basharat Peer, the film had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival held in May this year. Now, with world cinema legend Martin Scorsese on its crew list as executive producer, the makers of Homebound are hopeful that the drama will emerge victorious at the upcoming Oscars ceremony. If it clinches a nomination, Homebound will be the first Indian movie to earn one in the category since Lagaan (2001). India has never won a Academy Award for Best International Feature Film to date.