‘Homebound’ author Puja Changoiwala files plagiarism lawsuit against Dharma Productions, says Oscar shortlisted movie a ‘blatant reproduction’ of her novel

Homebound in legal trouble
Homebound author files lawsuit against Dharma Productions and Netflix, images via Instagram and India Currents

Neeraj Ghaywan’s critically acclaimed Hindi movie Homebound has been hit with plagiarism allegations just days after being shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

The Dharma Productions movie, starring Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, currently being streamed on Netflix, has been accused of misappropriating the title and substantial portions of author Puja Changoiwala’s 2021 novel Homebound.

As per reports, Author and journalist Puja Changoiwala has alleged blatant reproduction of scenes, dialogue, narrative structure, and creative expressions in the film’s second half, describing it as a “flagrant act of passing off.” Changoiwala says she resorted to legal action only after her lawyer’s notice to the production house went ignored.

Changoiwala has now filed a legal application with the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority under Section 12 A of the Commercial Courts Act. She has stated that the movie’s script was made in 2022, months after her 2021 novel ‘Homebound’ was published.

Released theatrically in September 2025 and later on Netflix, the movie Homebound earned rave reviews (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), a Cannes premiere with standing ovation, and praises for its portrayal of friendship, caste, migration, and other systemic issues in rural India. The movie highlighted the struggle of rural youth for government jobs and how the Covid lockdowns had affected migrant workers in India. It also portrayed ‘caste discriminations’ faced by poor families and so-called anti-Muslim behaviour displayed at workplaces. 

Written by OpIndia Staff
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