Kiran Rao's 'Laapata Ladies' Chosen as India's Official Entry for Oscars 2025

Mumbai : Director Kiran Rao's film Laapata Ladies has officially entered the race for the Oscars. Selected by the Film Federation of India from a list of 29 films, Laapata Ladies has emerged as India’s official entry for the 2025 Academy Awards. Released in theaters in March 2024, the film garnered widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences alike for its unique blend of comedy and social commentary on women's identity in society.

The movie, hailed as one of the year's sleeper hits, won its spot after surpassing notable films like the Hindi blockbuster Animal and the National Award-winning Malayalam film Attam. The selection committee, impressed with its theme and execution, chose it as India's contender for the prestigious Oscars.

Laapata Ladies premiered last year at the Toronto Film Festival, where it received considerable praise. Despite being released on limited screens, the film found its audience and grossed over ₹25 crores worldwide, despite a modest budget of less than ₹5 crores. The performances of actors Nitaanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Srivastava, Chhaya Kadam, and Ravi Kishan were widely appreciated, and Kiran Rao's direction received acclaim for its thoughtfulness and creativity.

Produced by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, Laapata Ladies marks the fourth film from Aamir Khan's production house to be selected as India’s official Oscar entry. Notably, his 2001 film *Lagaan* was also submitted to the Oscars, making this another milestone for the actor-producer.