Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies out of Oscar race; Guneet Monga's Anuja shortlisted

On Tuesday, December 18, The Academy announced 15 films that have been shortlisted for the next round. Unfortunately, Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan's film Laapataa Ladies is out of the Oscars 2025 race. But there is still hope as two-time Academy Award winner Guneet Monga’s film Anuja has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category. Even Shahana Goswami-starrer Santosh, made by British-Indian director Sandhya Suri, made it to the International Feature Film category.

Laapataa Ladies out of Oscar 2025 race

After the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the nominated films in ten categories, it was seen that Laapataa Ladies, which was India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category did not make it to the nominated list.

Helmed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam is backed by Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures, and Jio Studios. The film hit the theatres on March 1, 2024. The drama-comedy film revolves around the lives of two brides who get swapped because of their veil.

Aamir Khan's Lagaan was the last Indian film to secure a spot in the top five nominations for Best International Feature Film at the 2002 Oscars.

However, Gunnet Monga’s Anuja has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category. Anuja speaks about the issue of child labor in the garment industry and features actor Nagesh Bhonsle in a key role. Anuja marks Guneet’s third nomination at the Oscars. Her earlier projects, The Elephant Whisperers and Period: End of Sentence won Oscars in 2023 and 2019 respectively.

Another film that has an Indian connection and has been nominated in the Best International Feature Film category is Shahana Goswami starrer, Santosh. The British-Indian film is directed by Sandhya Suri. The film even premiered this year in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival.