The Heartbreaking True Story Behind Homebound

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Featuring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, the film Homebound tells the story of Shoaib and Chandan, two friends striving for the stability of police jobs. Set during India’s 2020 lockdown, their journey exposes the harsh realities of the country’s social and political landscape. Shoaib, a Muslim man, is modeled after Mohammad Saiyub, and Chandan, a Dalit, is based on Amrit Kumar. Their bond underscores the challenges of navigating religious prejudice and caste discrimination – issues that, despite being illegal, continue to deeply impact Indian society – while also showcasing themes of loyalty and strength.

The film Homebound had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and was later shown at the Toronto International Film Festival. Produced with support from Dharma Productions, led by Karan Johar, and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, it will be released in theaters on September 26, 2025. Homebound has also been selected as India’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.

Here’s what to know about the true story that inspired Homebound, coming to Netflix on Nov. 21.

The childhood friends

Mohammad Saiyub, 22, and Amrit Kumar, 24, became close friends growing up in the small village of Devari, in Uttar Pradesh, India. They faced social and religious divisions, as Mohammad is Muslim and Amrit is Dalit, but their friendship overcame these barriers from childhood.

These young men moved to the city of Surat, on India’s west coast, to find work in factories. They shared a room and each held a separate job, hoping to send money back to their families in Devari. When the COVID-19 pandemic began and India went into lockdown in 2020, the factories closed and they lost their jobs. This quickly used up their savings, and they were left stranded with no way to return home.

A dangerous journey home

Saiyub and Kumar were trying to return home and first attempted to get seats on special trains for migrant workers, but they couldn’t get on after several weeks. They then decided to pay a truck driver 4,000 rupees each—around $53 at the time, or $45 today—to transport them north to Uttar Pradesh.

The two workers walked around 15 miles with approximately 60 other laborers to a hidden location by the highway where a truck was waiting. They then squeezed into a small, uncomfortable area above the driver’s seat for the long ride.

The next day, Kumar developed a high fever and started to shiver. Other passengers, worried he might have COVID-19, demanded he get off the truck. Saiyub wouldn’t leave his friend, and helped him out into the hot afternoon sun. They waited in a small area beside the highway, and a local politician eventually arrived with food and water. Saiyub remained with Kumar, trying to lower his fever and keep him awake as his health declined.

After being found, they were taken by ambulance to a hospital in Kolaras, but were still over 310 miles from their home in Devari. Doctors first thought Kumar might be suffering from heatstroke or low blood sugar and started giving him fluids to help stabilize him. When his condition worsened, he was moved to a hospital in Shivpuri with better facilities and admitted to the ICU due to severe dehydration. Saiyub was isolated while waiting for COVID-19 test results, and was very worried about his friend and Kumar’s family.

The photograph that went viral

A moving photo taken on May 15, 2020, shows Mohammad Saiyub holding his friend, Amrit Kumar, who was very sick and weak. The photo was taken in central India before the ambulance arrived. Amrit had a fever and was dehydrated, and could barely stay awake. A nearly empty water bottle and a red bag were nearby as the sun shone down on them.

The photo rapidly circulated on social media in India, quickly becoming a moving representation of strong friendship, human fragility, and the hardships faced by migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown. It captured not only a heartbreaking scene, but also the larger story of many laborers enduring difficult trips home during the pandemic.

The tragic death of Amrit Kumar

On May 16, 2020, a nurse confirmed Saiyub’s biggest fear: his friend Amrit had died from severe dehydration. Both had tested negative for COVID-19, proving that the difficult journey, not the virus, had caused Amrit’s death. Saiyub then faced the difficult task of getting Amrit’s body home during strict lockdown conditions. Initially, officials wouldn’t allow Amrit’s father to travel, so Saiyub had to deal with complicated paperwork and hoped for a negative COVID test so he could safely bring his friend back to Devari.

Once the tests came back negative, Saiyub brought Amrit’s body back to the village. He was buried in the Dalit cemetery with just a small pile of earth covering his grave.

Amrit’s death deeply affected his family, who depended on him financially and emotionally. Even his small contributions, like building their home, were essential to their well-being. Saiyub, heartbroken by the loss of his friend, returned to his village with his parents and an uncertain future. Peer wrote about their story as part of the larger challenges faced by India’s migrant workers, particularly how issues of caste, class, and social inequality were worsened by the pandemic.

How Homebound ends

The film Homebound stays faithful to the true story’s emotional core, while making its ending more impactful by focusing on themes of friendship, unfairness, and grief. Before attempting to return home, the movie introduces Shoaib and Chandan, who are both hoping to improve their lives by passing a police recruitment exam. When the results come out, only Chandan succeeds, and his family rejoices, believing this job will finally allow them to build a proper house. However, Shoaib is too old to try again. Although Chandan excels in the physical portion of the exam, the pandemic soon causes all appointments to be put on hold, leaving his future uncertain.

The most intense moment happens on the return trip to their village. Packed into a truck with other workers, Chandan suddenly gets a high fever and becomes confused. The other passengers, worried he might have COVID-19, insist he and Shoaib get off. The driver makes them leave on the side of the highway. As Chandan slips in and out of consciousness, Shoaib tries to help, but Chandan’s condition quickly worsens, and he dies in Shoaib’s arms.

Shoaib brought Chandan’s body back to Devari and gave his mother a pair of sandals, honoring his final wish. The family then finished building the brick house they had started, a silent memorial to their son. Sadly, the official letter confirming Chandan’s police job arrived after he had passed away.

In the last scene, Shoaib goes back to the riverbank where he and his friend often met. Seeing his friend’s determination inspires him to start studying again. As he sits there, a white dove lands nearby, representing hope and the chance to heal and rebuild after a painful loss.

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2025-11-21 22:07