Laapataa Ladies Star Nitanshi Goel, aka Phool, Shares Honest Reaction to Kiran Rao’s Film Being Chosen for Oscars 2025: “Honestly, I’m not sure…”
Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2025. The film faced competition from several notable titles, including Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, Kartik Aaryan’s Chandu Champion, Prabhas’s Kalki 2898 AD, the National Award-winning Malayalam film Aattam, Rajkummar Rao’s Shrikanth, and Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur, among others. Nitanshi Goel, who portrayed Phool in the film, has shared her excitement about this achievement, stating that her phone is ringing ever since the news and she is “no position to complain”.
In a chat with India Today, Nitanshi, recounted the moment of celebration among her team, including director Kiran Rao and actors Sparsh Shrivastava and Pratibha Ranta. She noted, “We all had a little celebration moment in our group chat on WhatsApp. I was eagerly waiting for confirmation from Kiran ma’am that what I was hearing in the news was true. I wanted someone to pinch me. I even had my own little dance party in my room.” The 17-year-old actor, the youngest in the Laapataa Ladies team, said, “I’m definitely the one dancing the most here.
Looking to the future, she conveyed her hopes of celebrating with her team at the Oscars, mentioning that she was optimistic they would be dancing all the way to the event and, with any luck, winning the trophy. Although she had not yet received any messages from Aamir Khan, Nitanshi felt confident he would soon extend his best wishes to the team. Reflecting on her time during the filming, she emphasized that her main priority was to ensure the audience appreciated their efforts.
Goel remarked on the incredible love they had received from the audience, noting that their recognition at the Oscars was a testament to that support. She credited the audience, Kiran Rao, and Aamir Khan for giving them the opportunity to reach an international platform, expressing her deep gratitude for allowing them to soar globally. She described the experience as a beautiful and surreal moment.
Kiran Rao expressed her heartfelt gratitude in a lengthy statement, highlighting the significance of cinema as a medium. She conveyed her deep honor and joy that her film Laapataa Ladies had been selected as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards.
Rao noted that this recognition reflected the tireless efforts of her entire team, whose dedication and passion had brought the story to life. She emphasized that cinema has the power to connect hearts, transcend boundaries, and spark meaningful conversations, hoping that the film would resonate with audiences worldwide as it has in India.
Rao further expressed her sincere thanks to the selection committee and everyone who believed in the film. She acknowledged the privilege of being chosen from among numerous outstanding Indian films this year, all of which were worthy contenders for the honor.
In her message, she also thanked the cast, crew, and production team for their relentless efforts, extending her deepest appreciation to Aamir Khan Productions and Jio Studios for their unwavering support and belief in her vision. She reflected on the privilege of collaborating with such a passionate and talented team committed to telling this story, noting that the journey had been one of incredible collaboration and growth.
Co-produced by Aamir Khan, the film garnered attention for its unique narrative. Starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Ravi Kishan among others, Laapataa Ladies centered around two newlywed brides and their journeys. The film was released earlier this year and is available for streaming on Netflix.
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