Laapataa Ladies’ makers react after the film fails to get shortlisted for Oscars 2025.
The team behind Laapataa Ladies has expressed their disappointment after the film failed to make the shortlist for the Best International Feature category at the 2025 Academy Awards. Despite the setback, the makers remain grateful for the journey and the support they received from audiences and industry peers alike.
In an official statement, the film’s producers acknowledged the disappointment but expressed their gratitude to the Academy members and the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury for selecting Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry for the Oscars. “We are of course disappointed that Laapataa Ladies did not make it to the Oscars shortlist this year, but we are immensely grateful for the incredible support and belief we’ve received throughout this journey,” said the team from Aamir Khan Productions, Jio Studios, and Kindling Productions.
The statement continued, “To be included in this prestigious process alongside some of the finest films from across the world is an honor in itself. We thank the Academy members, FFI jury, and audiences worldwide for their love and support. We congratulate the teams of the top 15 shortlisted films and wish them the best in the next stages of the awards.”
Directed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies tells the story of two newly-wed brides who are accidentally swapped during a train journey to their husbands’ homes. The film stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam, and Ravi Kishan.
While the film didn’t make the cut for the Oscars 2025 shortlist, the team remains hopeful and positive. “For us, this is not the end but a step forward. We remain committed to bringing more powerful stories to life and sharing them with the world,” the statement concluded.The film’s exit from the Oscars race sparked reactions from several filmmakers and fans. Notably, filmmaker Hansal Mehta and Grammy-winner Rickey Tej criticized the FFI for its selection process, with Mehta sarcastically pointing out the “poor strike rate” of India’s Oscar entries in recent years. Many social media users shared their disappointment and suggested that another film, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, should have been selected as India’s official entry instead.
