When the news broke that Laapataa Ladies, a satirical comedy with a feel-good ending and a social message, was India’s Oscar entry, everyone was over the moon. But that dream just fell apart. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao’s much-loved project has officially been snubbed by the Oscars 2025 shortlist, leaving fans and industry stalwarts in a mix of disappointment and rage mode.
Laapataa Ladies No Longer A Part of Oscars 2025
The Academy revealed its shortlist for Best International Feature Film, and Laapataa Ladies or Lost Ladies for the global audience didn’t make the cut. Instead, a UK-produced Hindi film titled Santosh stole the spotlight. This desi didn’t get the golden ticket and people have thoughts.
Aamir Khan & Kiran Rao’s Official Statement
While the internet was busy roasting and ranting, the Laapataa Ladies team decided to take the high road. Aamir Khan Productions dropped a heartfelt statement, thanking fans and critics for their support.
The statement said, “Laapataa Ladies (Lost 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.”
“To be included in this prestigious process alongside some of the finest films from across the world is an honor 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,” they added.
“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 concluded.
Hansal Mehta expresses His Disappointed
When it comes to giving it back, Hansal Mehta doesn’t hold back. Taking to his X handle (formerly Twitter), the director dropped a sarcastic bomb, “Film Federation of India does it again! Their strike rate and selection of films year after year is impeccable.” He’s not impressed, and honestly, can you blame him?
Film Federation of India does it again! Their strike rate and selection of films year after year is impeccable. pic.twitter.com/hiwmatzDbW
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 17, 2024
Ricky Kej Calls Out Bollywood’s Bubble
Grammy-winner Ricky Kej joined the chat and didn’t mince words. He shared, “So, the @TheAcademy Oscars shortlist is out. #LaapataaLadies is a very well made, entertaining movie (I enjoyed it), but was absolutely the wrong choice to represent India for the best #InternationalFeatureFilm category. As expected, it lost. When are we going to realize.. year after year.. we are choosing the wrong films. There are so many excellent movies made, and we should be winning the #InternationalFeatureFilm category every year!”
Ricky didn’t stop there. He continued, “Unfortunately we live in a “Mainstream Bollywood” bubble, where we cannot look beyond films that we ourselves find entertaining. Instead we should just look for good films made by film-makers who are uncompromising in their art.. low budget or big budget.. star or no star.. just great artistic cinema. Below is the poster of #LaapataaLadies, I am sure most academy voting members dismissed the film just by looking at these.”
Chhaya Kadam Feels the Sting
Actress Chhaya Kadam, who played the unforgettable Manju Maai, didn’t hold back her emotions. In an interview, she confessed, “Dekho na, kya karein! I’m really upset. We had envisioned such big things for our film.” She continued, “It’s okay. We shall keep fighting for all our upcoming films. We shall keep trying. Next time, we will once again go to the Oscars and go much ahead in the competition.”
Has she spoken to Kiran yet? Here’s what she said: “I haven’t, to be honest. I want to give her some time. She had just returned to India from the USA. She was there for about a month.” Recalling how they recently met and manifested an Oscar win, Chhaya stated, “We had met just three days back at an event. We were so happy. We were hopeful that we’d go far ahead in the competition. I really wish that All We Imagine As Light could also get an Oscar nomination.”
Bollywood’s Oscars Struggles: Same Old Story?
Year after year, India struggles to crack the Oscars formula. While Laapataa Ladies charmed audiences at home, international critics clearly weren’t buying what we were selling. The debate over choosing the right films to represent India continues, and Hansal Mehta’s sarcasm sums it up best – maybe it’s time for a rethink, Film Federation of India?
What’s Next for Team Laapataa?
Even though the Oscars door slammed shut, the Laapataa Ladies team isn’t slowing down. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao remain committed to bringing powerful stories to life. And for the fans? Well, there’s always next year and more stories waiting to be told.
In the end, Laapataa Ladies might have missed out on Oscar gold, but it’s still got a place in our hearts.
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