Mohammad Mansoor honoured with Hind Ratan Award
NRI Businessman honoured with the highest annual award by NRI Welfare Society of India
New Delhi : Mohammad Mansoor, founder of Exelon and Saara Group, was honoured Hind Ratan Award by the NRI Welfare Society of India at the 38th International Congress of NRIs on the eve of the 70th Republic Day in New Delhi. The congress is held annually in association with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations.
Mansoor is among the pioneers who supported the sports and media initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also introduced the first franchise based T20 Premier Cricket League, following the format of Indian Premier League, in the Kingdom of Bahrain under the patronage of Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa in 2018. The initiative was critically supported by the legends of the sport and Bollywood celebrities.
The initiatives by Mohammad Mansoor brought together leading investors, celebrities, members of the film fraternity and sports from India to support the initiatives by the Royal Family of Bahrain towards the growth of sports and media industry in the region. His presence and support towards Brave Combat Federation which is the fastest growing Mixed Martial Arts organisation in the world found by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and operated by Mohammed Shahid are also recognised among the global sports community.
One of the leading businessmen in Bahrain, Mansoor is the Chairman & CEO of SAARA Group, who heads a series of ventures and organisations spread across the domains of Information Technology, Energy, Media, Oil & Gas, Sports Initiatives, Seed Capital Investments, and Social Initiatives. Exelon is among his most ambitious initiatives which are spread across the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India. Exelon serves SABIC & ARAMCO apart from bringing multiple investment initiatives to the Kingdom of Bahrain. This includes SMEXINDO and facilitating the development of projects leading to Garuda City from Indonesia and global initiatives. Mansoor is also a member of Bahrain India Society, patron of Bahrain Kannada Sangha and the patron of Indian Club, Bahrain.
“I am humbled by the love and recognition which is a pillar of strength to each of my initiatives. I firmly believe that it is the duty of expatriates as global citizens to support progressive initiatives in the region where they operate. This will have a significant impact on the way the world perceives India and Indians. I am honoured by the Hind Ratan Award from the NRI Welfare Society of India, and this motivates me to strengthen my initiatives in the region and towards multiple projects which will add value towards the NRI community in the region by being a part of multiple progressive initiatives by the Kingdom of Bahrain”, said Mohammad Mansoor.
Mohammad Mansoor represented the Indian business community in Bahrain by being one among the entourage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during his official visit to India.
(With His Majesty KING HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA, King of Kingdom of Bahrain)
(Presenting the cricket bat to H.H. Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Bahrain’s 1st Cricket Premier league)
(With Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain)
(With Crown Prince H.H. Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa)
(With Mohammad Shahid , CEO of Brave Combat Federation , and Mohammad Arayyed)
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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
