Poster of ‘Homebound’ | Photo Credit: @DharmaMovies/X

Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s shifting drama Homebound dominated the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 awards night time, bagging the coveted honours of greatest movie and greatest director.

Ghaywan’s film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jetwa and Janhvi Kapoor, triumphed on the annual gala, which honours the perfect 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 even function the pageant’s closing movie on August 24.

Apart from Ghaywan’s double win, the night additionally noticed Bollywood star Aamir Khan obtain the distinguished Excellence in Cinema Award for his decades-long contribution to the business.

“I’ve been drawn to 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 not too long ago starred in vital hit Sitaare Zameen Par, stated in a press release.

Abhishek Bachchan was named greatest actor (Male) for his efficiency in filmmaker Shoojit Sircar’s I Want to Talk, whereas Geetha Kailasam received greatest actor (Female) for Angammal, which additionally received greatest 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. But that is an emotional second for me to get the perfect 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 Best Actor award for ‘I Want To Talk’. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

On the streaming facet, the perfect collection award went to filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant. Jaideep Ahlawat was recognised as greatest actor (Male) for Paatal Lok season two, whereas Nimisha Sajayan earned greatest actor (Female) 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 Diversity in Cinema, and Arvind Swamy, recognised with the Leadership in Cinema Award.

The awards additionally spotlighted quick movies, with greatest quick movie (India) awarded to Kalar Pencils by Dhananjay Santosh Goregaonkar and greatest quick movie (Australia) to Drifters by David Liu. Now in its sixteenth 12 months, IFFM is the biggest Indian movie pageant outdoors India. It will conclude on August 24.

Published – August 16, 2025 02:04 pm IST