Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies has been officially selected as India’s entry for the Oscars 2025, the Film Federation of India announced. The Hindi film, a satirical take on patriarchy, was chosen from a pool of 29 films, including popular Bollywood movie Animal, Malayalam National Award-winning film Aattam, and Cannes award-winner All We Imagine As Light. The selection committee, led by acclaimed Assamese director Jahnu Barua, unanimously picked Laapataa Ladies for the Best International Film category.
The film, co-produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, is a light-hearted yet thought-provoking story set in 2001. It follows two brides from rural India who accidentally get switched during a train journey, sparking a series of humorous and empowering events. The movie has been lauded by critics and has resonated well with audiences across India since its release in March. Rao expressed her gratitude for the honor, saying it was a privilege to be chosen from among many outstanding Indian films.
Laapataa Ladies premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastav, with supporting roles from Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma. Kiran Rao, who made her directorial debut with Dhobi Ghat in 2010, returned to the director’s chair after a 13-year break with Laapataa Ladies.
