Neeraj Ghaywan’s ‘Homebound’ wins top honours at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025

Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s moving drama Homebound dominated the Indian Movie Pageant of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 awards night time, bagging the coveted honours of finest movie and finest director.

Ghaywan’s film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jetwa and Janhvi Kapoor, triumphed on the annual gala, which honours one of the best of Indian cinema on a world stage, on Friday night time.

Homebound, which explores themes of belonging, displacement and the emotional complexities of returning dwelling, may also function the pageant’s closing movie on August 24.

Other than Ghaywan’s double win, the night additionally noticed Bollywood star Aamir Khan obtain the celebrated Excellence in Cinema Award for his decades-long contribution to the trade.

“I’ve been interested in telling tales from a really younger age. Filmmaking is a collaborative artwork and this award and recognition wouldn’t have been doable with out my writers, administrators, co-stars, and the audiences who’ve given me the chance to inform the tales and be a part of the numerous tales I’ve been a part of,” Aamir, who most just lately starred in essential hit Sitaare Zameen Par, stated in an announcement.

Abhishek Bachchan was named finest actor (Male) for his efficiency in filmmaker Shoojit Sircar’s I Want to Talk, whereas Geetha Kailasam received finest actor (Feminine) for Angammal, which additionally received finest indie movie award.

“Life has come a full circle for me. I got here right here in 2022 the place I used to be feted with the excellence in cinema award for my physique of labor. However that is an emotional second for me to get one of the best actor on this very stage and be recognised for my position in a movie that’s extraordinarily particular to me.

Abhishek Bachchan along with his Greatest Actor award for ‘I Need To Discuss’.
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

On the streaming facet, one of the best sequence award went to filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant. Jaideep Ahlawat was recognised as finest actor (Male) for Paatal Lok season two, whereas Nimisha Sajayan earned finest actor (Feminine) for Dabba Cartel.

ALSO READ: Cannes 2025: Neeraj Ghaywan embraces Karan Johar as ‘Homebound’ receives 9-minute standing ovation

The winners additionally included actor-comedian Vir Das, who obtained the Disruptor Award, Aditi Rao Hydari, honoured for Range in Cinema, and Arvind Swamy, recognised with the Management in Cinema Award.

The awards additionally spotlighted quick movies, with finest quick movie (India) awarded to Kalar Pencils by Dhananjay Santosh Goregaonkar and finest quick movie (Australia) to Drifters by David Liu. Now in its sixteenth yr, IFFM is the biggest Indian movie pageant outdoors India. It should conclude on August 24.