Laapataa Ladies, representing India in the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, has been eliminated from contention. Directed by Kiran Rao, the film is now included among the 15 features that have been shortlisted, competing for a place in the final five. This announcement was made by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on the morning of December 18.

Laapataa Ladies were excluded from the Oscars.

On December 18, it was revealed that Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies, now renamed Lost Ladies, did not secure a position on the shortlist for the Oscars 2025 in the Best International Feature category. In contrast, another film related to India, Santosh, directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri and featuring Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, has successfully made it onto the list, representing the UK.

The other competitors in this category include Emilia Pérez from France, I'm Still Here from Brazil, Universal Language from Canada, Waves from the Czech Republic, The Girl with the Needle from Denmark, The Seed of the Sacred Fig from Germany, Touch from Iceland, Kneecap from Ireland, Vermiglio from Italy, Flow from Latvia, Armand from Norway, From Ground Zero from Palestine, Dahomey from Senegal, and How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies from Thailand. The final nominations for the Oscars will be revealed on January 17.

In the meantime, Laapataa Ladies has been selected by India's committee from a pool of 29 films in various Indian languages, which includes this year's Cannes Grand Prix winner, All We Imagine as Light, directed by Payal Kapadia, as well as the Bollywood blockbuster Animal.

Laapataa Ladies premiered in cinemas in March 2024, showcasing the performances of Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastav in the principal roles, supported by Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma. The film is produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, and Jyoti Deshpande, under the auspices of Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures, and Jio Studios.

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