Exclusive Interview! Kiran Rao on her directorial Laapataa Ladies making it to the Oscars

Kiran Rao’s directorial venture Laapataa Ladies has been chosen as India’s official entry in the Best Foreign Film Category for the Oscars 2025 by the Film Federation of India on Monday.

Talking about it, an ecstatic Kiran told us, “I was hoping that Laapataa Ladies would be selected by the committee, but honestly, I didn’t expect it. My first reaction was utter disbelief! It’s only after my phone started pinging non-stop that I realised what had happened. I spoke to Aamir (Khan, co-producer) as soon as it was confirmed, and then others from our team - Ram Sampath, Sneha Desai, Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan and Divynidhi Sharma. It has been quite overwhelming. This has been such a great year for Indian films and there were so many brilliant films in the mix. It’s a tremendous honour for our entire team.”

The film, which boasted of a fresh cast, was applauded by critics and audiences alike. About the love the film has received, Kiran shared, “We have such a treasure trove of talent in India, and it’s always a delight to discover and present new actors to the audience. This film is exceedingly special. Getting an opportunity to direct a film is such a great privilege in the first place, and I’ve waited for so many years to direct my second film. I’m grateful to Aamir for giving me this opportunity and to Jyoti Deshpande for championing the film.”

Ask her if Laapataa Ladies will bring back an Oscar home and she says, “I have my fingers firmly crossed! For now, we are just happy to be selected to be India’s official entry. We have a long road ahead and will have to figure out the best way forward.”



Back in the day, Aamir starrer Lagaan (2001) was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards. Is the team looking to tap his experience to plan the strategy in the months ahead? “Aamir’s experience will of course be invaluable to us. His insights and knowledge will help formulate the strategy for our campaign and the journey ahead,” said Rao.
Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”