Kiran Rao’s *Laapataa Ladies* Selected as India’s Official Submission for Oscars 2025

Kiran Rao’s *Laapataa Ladies* has officially been selected as India’s entry for the Oscars 2025 in the Best International Feature Film category. The announcement was made by the Film Federation of India (FFI) on Monday, September 23. The FFI is responsible for choosing the country’s submission for the Academy Awards each year. Rao’s sophomore directorial effort, *Laapataa Ladies*, was released in March and follows the story of a young man whose bride gets accidentally swapped with another woman. The film stars Sparsh Shrivastava, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam, and Ravi Kishan, and is based on Biplab Goswami’s award-winning screenplay *Two Brides*. The FFI jury, led by Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua, commended the film for its portrayal of Indian women as a balance of submission and strength. Set in a semi-idyllic world, the film uses humor and satire to explore the roles of women, portraying them as both homemakers and entrepreneurial rebels. The jury praised *Laapataa Ladies* for being entertaining and relatable to audiences worldwide while highlighting themes of change and empowerment. With this selection, Kiran Rao’s *Laapataa Ladies* now represents India on the global stage, aiming for recognition at the prestigious Academy Awards in 2025.