Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies has been chosen as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars. The Film Federation of India announced this decision on Monday, selecting the film from a pool of 29 contenders. The Hindi film, a humorous exploration of patriarchy, stood out among several popular entries.
Among the strong contenders were Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Ranbir Kapoor, as well as the Malayalam National Award-winning Aattam and Cannes winner All We Imagine As Light. Despite tough competition, Laapataa Ladies emerged as the preferred choice.
The selection was made by a 13-member committee headed by Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua. The committee’s decision to send Laapataa Ladies for consideration in the Best International Film category at the Academy Awards was unanimous.
Other notable films considered included the Tamil movie Maharaja, Telugu films Kalki 2898 AD and Hanu-Man, and Hindi films Swatantraya Veer Savarkar and Article 370. Last year, the Malayalam hit 2018: Everyone is a Hero was chosen as India’s entry.
Aamir Khan’s Past Oscar Entries This isn't the first time a film associated with Aamir Khan has been sent to the Oscars. Over the years, several of his productions and performances have gained international recognition.
Lagaan (2001) – Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan, this film was nominated for an Oscar and remains one of the most renowned Indian films globally.
Rang De Basanti (2006) – Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, this critically acclaimed film, featuring Aamir Khan, addressed youth activism and patriotism.
Taare Zameen Par (2007) – Directed by Aamir Khan, this heartwarming film about a dyslexic child was India’s entry but did not secure an Oscar nomination.
Laapataa Ladies Box Office Performance Laapataa Ladies features an ensemble cast, including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam. The film collected Rs.20.58 crore in India over a 13-week theatrical run. With an additional Rs.2.75 crore from the overseas market, the total gross collection in India reached Rs.24.31 crore, and the worldwide earnings amounted to Rs.27.06 crore. Reports suggest the film was made on a budget of approximately Rs.5 crore. It is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
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