Payal Kapadia is all smiles about Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies, which has been selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2025. This comes after her own film, All We Imagine As Light, made waves at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the Grand Prix award and sparking hopes for an Oscar nomination — only to be left out of the official submission list. While speaking to The Times of India, Kapadia shared her excitement, saying, “I am happy that Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars. It’s such a fun, wonderful movie.”
When asked if she wanted her film, All We Imagine As Light, to be considered for the Oscars as an independent category, Payal Kapadia said that it will be released in India and the US next month. She plans to gauge audience reactions before making any decisions regarding submission. Payal emphasised that the choice to submit the film for consideration wasn’t solely hers to make. This highly anticipated film is set to hit theatres in India on November 22.
Talking about what Oscar validation means to her, Payal Kapadia said, “Cannes gave us so much attention in India, and the nicest thing is that recognition gave me distribution.” She added, “There is no bigger joy than screening your film in cinemas, which people can buy a ticket for and watch.”
The Film Federation of India (FFI) drew flak for its choice to send Laapataa Ladies to the Oscars rather than other movies like Kapadia’s. Ravi Kottakara, the President of FFI, told The Indian Express that the jury had sought to select a film that reflects the true profile of the society. He stated, “The jury liked Laapataa Ladies and felt that All We Imagine As Light is like a foreign film and not like Indian cinema.”
Kiran Rao, in her own commentary, had a positive outlook for All We Imagine As Light. She told TOI that, “All We Imagine As Light has the potential to win not only Best Foreign Film but also Best Picture at the Oscars.”
Rao’s film, Laapataa Ladies, tells the story of two newlywed brides, earning praise for its unique storyline. Starring Nitanshi Goel and Pratibha Ranta, the film is co-produced by Aamir Khan. It faced stiff competition from other films like Animal and Sam Bahadur, yet it stood out by incorporating a distinctly Indian perspective on social issues. This unique approach helped secure its spot as India’s official entry for the Oscars.
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