Team 'Laapataa Ladies' On Oscars Disappointment: This is Not The End, But A Step Forward

Filmmaker Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies) is out of the Oscar race as the acclaimed comedy-drama failed to make it to the Academy Awards shortlist. The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences announced the shortlist of 15 films, which will now advance to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards.

Laapataa Ladies was chosen as India's official entry by the Film Federation of India (FFI), leading to some dispute as many believed filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, which is already garnering tremendous Oscar buzz independently, was a stronger contender.

However, though Laapataa Ladies crashed out of the Oscar race, British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s Santosh, led by actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, has made it to the shortlist as the UK's official entry for Best International Feature.

In a statement, the team of Laapataa Ladies said that they are "disappointed" they couldn't make it to the shortlist but are looking at it as a "step forward" in continuing to bring powerful stories to the screen.

"Laapataa Ladies did not make it to the Academy Awards shortlist this year, and we are of course disappointed, but equally we are immensely grateful for the incredible support and belief we’ve received throughout this journey. We at Aamir Khan Productions, Jio Studios and Kindling Productions extend our gratitude to the Academy members and the FFI jury for considering our film," they said.

"To be included in this prestigious process alongside some of the finest films from across the world is an honour in itself. Our heartfelt thanks to all the audiences around the world who have expressed their love and support for our film. We congratulate the teams of all the top 15 shortlisted films and wish them the very best in the next stages of the awards. 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. Thank you for being part of this journey," the statement read.

Films from 85 countries—including France, Canada, Norway and Brazil—were eligible in the category and Academy members from all branches were invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting.

Apart from Santosh, another India-set project made it to the shortlist in the Live Action Short category—filmmaker Adam J Graves' Anuja. The film is produced by Mindy Kaling, Suchitra Mattai, Krushan Naik, Aaron Kopp, Ksheetij Saini, Alexandra Blaney, and Devananda Graves.

In a statement, Adam J Graves called Anuja a collaboration between "so many talented and passionate people, above all our two stars, actors Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag."

He added, "We knew their performances were truly special. But there is nothing more gratifying than knowing that the film moves audiences emotionally, while also drawing attention to the issue of child labor."

Guneet Monga Kapoor, who serves as an Executive Producer, said being shortlisted for the Oscars was a moment of "immense pride."

"Anuja is a deeply personal story of two sisters navigating through life, celebrating the unwavering hope and resilience of the human spirit. It’s been an honour to contribute to the campaign as an executive producer, and to be part of its incredible journey with the brilliant filmmakers Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai and powerful performances by Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag. This is a humbling recognition of the team’s dedication and to the strength of this moving story."