Neeraj Ghaywan’s poignant drama Homebound emerged as the big winner at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025, securing the prestigious awards for Best Film and Best Director on Friday night.

The film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jetwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, explores profound themes of belonging, displacement, and the emotional intricacies of returning home. Homebound is also slated to be the festival’s closing film on August 24.

In addition to Ghaywan’s dual triumph, Bollywood icon Aamir Khan was honoured with the Excellence in Cinema Award, celebrating his enduring contributions to Indian cinema. Khan expressed gratitude, emphasizing the collaborative nature of filmmaking.

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Abhishek Bachchan received the Best Actor (Male) award for his role in Shoojit Sircar’s I Want to Talk, while Geetha Kailasam won Best Actor (Female) for Angammal, which also took home the Best Indie Film award.

Highlighting the emotional significance of his win, Bachchan remarked on the personal nature of the role and his connection to the festival, recalling his initial involvement with the film three years ago in Melbourne.

On the streaming front, Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant won Best Series. Jaideep Ahlawat and Nimisha Sajayan received Best Actor awards for their performances in Paatal Lok Season 2 and Dabba Cartel, respectively.

Other notable winners included Vir Das (Disruptor Award), Aditi Rao Hydari (Diversity in Cinema), and Arvind Swamy (Leadership in Cinema). Short films were also recognized, with Kalar Pencils by Dhananjay Santosh Goregaonkar and Drifters by David Liu winning in the India and Australia categories, respectively.

Now in its 16th year, IFFM remains the largest Indian film festival held outside India.

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