Kiran Rao's directorial venture, 'Laapataa Ladies', has secured its place as India's official entry for the Oscars 2025. In a recent event held in Chennai, the 'Film Federation of India', the apex body responsible for selecting the country's official entry for the 97th Academy Awards, announced 'Laapataa Ladies' as India's official submission.
When the Film Federation of India was reviewing the films shortlisted for the Oscars, Kiran Rao told PTI, "If this film goes to the Oscars, my dream will come true. But it is a process, and I hope that it (Laapataa Ladies) will be considered. I am sure that the best film will be chosen, no matter which film they select under this scheme."
Speaking about the film being screened at the Supreme Court of India by the Chief Justice, Kiran said, 'It is a testament to our Chief Justice's foresight and vision that he showed a film like this to his staff and judges, so as to initiate a conversation on gender inequality and women's empowerment. The fact that he watched the film and reached out to us, we couldn't believe it. We were very grateful and excited.”
This film, directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan, stars Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Srivastava, and Nitasha Goyal in the lead roles.
"Laapataa Ladies" is a heartwarming and empowering story set in 2001 that revolves around two rural Indian brides who accidentally switch places during a train journey. Produced by Kiran Rao's Kindling Productions and Aamir Khan Productions, the film received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in March. Featuring a talented cast including Nitasha Goyal, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Srivastava, Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Agarwal Sharma, the film highlights themes of empowerment and resilience."
Regarding the selection of 'Laapataa Ladies' for the Oscars, Nitanshi Goyal, who plays a pivotal role in the film, expressed her joy. She said, "It was always a dream, and we manifested it a lot. Not just me, but the entire team wanted our film to be officially selected for the Oscars.
The success of such films based on social stigmas and biases shows how far Bollywood has come and seeking entry in Oscars through this movie is a remarkable step forward. The audience awaits production of more such heartwarming and inspiring films.