‘Homebound’ wins big at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025 with Best Film and Best Director for Neeraj Ghaywan, while Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khan, and Arvind Swamy also shine.
Images: Instagram
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 turned into a star-studded evening filled with joy, emotions, and unforgettable moments. Among all the winners, the loudest applause went to the team of ‘Homebound’. The film not only bagged the Best Film Award, but its director Neeraj Ghaywan also walked away with the Best Director Award.
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, ‘Homebound’ stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. The film has been produced under the banner of Dharma Productions, backed by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra.
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For the entire cast and crew, this victory was a proud moment. Karan Johar, who is known for his emotional messages, celebrated the achievement on social media. Sharing his happiness, he wrote, “Our first WIN! Will always be special #homebound.”
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Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan was presented with the Excellence in Cinema Award. The honour recognised his unmatched contribution to cinema and his decades of work as an actor, filmmaker, and cultural icon.
Another big moment came when Arvind Swami received the Leadership in Cinema Award. The actor, known for his powerful roles in both Bollywood and South Indian cinema, shared his gratitude.
One of the most emotional parts of the night came when Abhishek Bachchan was declared Best Actor (Male) for his film ‘I Want To Talk’.
Accepting the award, he said, “Life has come full circle for me. I came here in 2022 and received the Excellence in Cinema Award. Today, I stand here with the Best Actor award for a film that is extremely special to me.”
Abhishek revealed that it was during the 2022 festival itself that filmmaker Shoojit Sircar offered him the role. He added that the film is a tribute to both his father and daughter, as it beautifully explores the themes of care and relationships.
On the other hand, the Best Actor (Female) award for films went to Geetha Kailasam for ‘Angammal’. The Tamil film, directed by Vipin Radhakrishnan, also won the Best Indie Film Award.
The festival also celebrated the rise of web series, which have become a huge part of modern storytelling. Jaideep Ahlawat won Best Actor (Male) – Series for ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’, while Nimisha Sajayan got the Best Actor (Female) – Series for ‘Dabba Cartel’.
The award for Best Series went to ‘Black Warrant’.
Another highlight was the recognition of diversity and equality. Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox), a Bengali film by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, won the Equality in Cinema Award.
Vir Das won the Disruptor Award, while Aditi Rao Hydari received the Diversity in Cinema Award.
Short films also had their moment in the spotlight. ‘Kalar Pencils’ by Dhananjay Santosh Goregaonkar won Best Short Film (India), while ‘Drifters’ by David Liu received Best Short Film (Australia).
Best Film: Homebound
Best Director: Neeraj Ghaywan (‘Homebound’)
Best Indie Film: Angammal
Best Actor (Male) – Film: Abhishek Bachchan (‘I Want to Talk’)
Special Mention – Best Actor (Male) – Film: Gugun Kigpen (‘Boong’)
Best Actor (Female) – Film: Geetha Kailasam (‘Angammal’)
Best Series: Black Warrant
Best Actor (Male) – Series: Jaideep Ahlawat (‘Paatal Lok Season 2’)
Best Actor (Female) – Series: Nimisha Sajayan (‘Dabba Cartel’)
Excellence in Cinema: Aamir Khan
Leadership in Cinema: Arvind Swamy
Disruptor Award: Vir Das
Diversity in Cinema: Aditi Rao Hydari
Equality in Cinema: Baksho Bondi
Best Short Film (India): Kalar Pencils
Best Short Film (Australia): Drifters
The 16th edition of IFFM 2025 will continue till August 24, with ‘Homebound’ chosen as the closing film.
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