Laapataa Ladies, India's official submission for the 97th Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film category, has been eliminated from the race for Oscars 2025 consideration. The Kiran Rao directorial may have lost the race, but another Hindi-language film that did make it to the shortlist is the United Kingdom's submission, Santosh. What is this film about, who are the people behind it, and how has Shahana Goswami reacted to the shortlist? Here's all you need to know about the Oscars 2025 shortlisted feature film. Santosh’s plot-line The Sandhya Suri-directed movie is about a Hindu widow who acquires her husband’s position as a police constable through a government program. She finds herself entangled in institutional politics as she tries to work with veteran detective Inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar) on a brutal murder case involving a teenage girl from the lower-caste Dalit community. Santosh’s star-cast Apart from Shahana Goswami, the film also stars Sunita Rajwar, Sanjay Bishnoi, Kushal Dubey, Nawal Shukla, and Pratibha Awasthi. It has been named one of the top 5 international films of 2024 by the National Board of Review. The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024. Santosh has been selected as one of only 15 films to advance to the next round out of 85 total submissions by countries worldwide. It was sent by the United Kingdom as their official submission for the Academy Awards 2025. Shahana Goswami on Santosh being shortlisted for Oscars! While talking about this significant milestone, actor Shahana Goswami reflected on this "little glory," saying, "So happy for the team, especially our writer-director Sandhya Suri, for this little glory of recognition for our film Santosh! How incredible to be shortlisted from amongst 85 films. Thank you to everyone who loved it, supported it, and voted for it.” More about Oscars 2025 Though the film is eligible to compete in the category, it doesn’t guarantee that it will advance to the final nominations for the Academy Awards. Voting for Oscar nominees in all 23 categories will begin on Wednesday, January 8, and conclude on Sunday, January 12. The nominations will be announced on Friday, January 17.
18 December,2024 09:35 PM IST | MumbaiVarun Dhawan is gearing up for the release of his upcoming actioner 'Baby John'. The film, an adaptation of the Tamil blockbuster 'Theri' has been presented by Atlee who directed the original starring Thalapathy Vijay. Directed by Kalees, the film also stars Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi in the lead. In the film, Varun plays a man with dual identity. While he is a devoted father, he also has a past as a dedicated and honest cop. The film also promises an exciting cameo by superstar Salman Khan who will join Dhawan in dealing with the troublemakers of his life. This is the second time Varun will be sharing screen with Salman in a cameo appearance. The first one was in 'Judwaa 2'. Varun Dhawan on Salman Khan cameo At a press meet in Mumbai on Wednesday, when Varun was asked about his collaboration with Salman Khan, the young actor said, "Aaj kal log sirf Instagram par collab kar rahe hai, humlog actual film mai kar rahe hai, proper collaboration which feels good. He is one of a kind. He has the largest heart in the business. When you see the film, all his fans are going to be very pleased." Further, when asked if he received a compliment from the superstar, Dhawan shared, "Woh seedha compliment dete nahi. He just saw me and said, 'Baby john, bada hogaya baby'," he said imitating Salman's deep voice. Varun Dhawan on collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh With Baby John, Varun also shared screen with actor/singer Diljit Dosanjh. The Punjabi singer lent his vocals to the hit track 'Nain Matakka'. Diljit and Varun also share screen in the music video. Talking about the collaboration, Dhawan said, "Loved collaborating with Diljit. The whole world loves him. Honestly, we just had to ask him once. We sent him the song by Thaman sir. He said he would love to work with Atlee sir and would love to work with me. He was such a dream to work with and we had a lot of fun. He is in a spiritual place I think. As an artist, he is pure. It's so beautiful to see him entertain people." 'Baby John' will be released in theatres on December 25.
18 December,2024 08:41 PM IST | MumbaiActor Chhaya Kadam, who has been in the limelight this year with three acclaimed movies to her credit such as Madgaon Express, Laapataa Ladies, and All We Imagine as Light, expresses shock over the Kiran Rao directorial not being shortlisted for the Oscars. She speaks exclusively to Mid-day about having an eventful 2024, trip to the Cannes Film Festival, working with prolific women filmmakers, and more. Chhaya Kadam on Laapataa Ladies not being shortlisted for the Oscars Chhaya, who played Manju Mai in the film says, “I had a lot of expectations. I was a little shocked today. But, it's ok. We keep trying. With more strength, we move ahead.” Reflecting on her achievements this year with an incredible run at the movies, she states, “I feel very good. We have been working for so many years. As I said, this year was shocking for me but I was also getting surprises.” Chhaya Kadam on her trip to Cannes Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Chhaya, who wore her mother’s saree and nose ring on the red carpet, recalls it was a different experience for her as an artist and as a person. She explains, "The happiness was on a different level. As an artist, I was happy that our film was selected and praised by stalwarts from the film industry. It was a big thing for me. But as Chhaya Kadam, to me, it was an experience of a lifetime since I travelled overseas for the first time by myself. To go out of India, for our cinema, it was a big thing. It gives you a lot of confidence. I was getting a lot of praise from people which made me emotional. But praise also means more responsibility. There were a lot of mixed emotions this year." Chhaya Kadam on working with women directors Two out of her three films had women as directors. Chhaya asserts that she doesn’t feel any difference because as women we’ve always said that we’re not less than anyone. She elaborates, "That being said, we do get to discuss a lot of things openly. A lot of times women are taken for granted. Both the film sets had a lot of women in every department. Our work was enough to show that, ‘Hum kisi se kam nahi’. I love it when women pave the way. It gives us a lot of energy. I have always maintained that we might bear the brunt, but for those entering the field after us, we must aim to make the path smoother and more accessible.” Chhaya Kadam on sharing screen space with youngsters When asked to share a piece of advice for the youngsters, Chhaya quips that they don’t need it. “When I work with the new artists, I feel that they know so much. They act so well. They read a lot. They speak different languages. I get to learn a lot from them,” she concludes.
18 December,2024 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesFilmmaker Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards, failed to make it to the Oscars shortlist. With Laapataa Ladies out of the Oscars race, the film’s official handle, in collaboration with Kiran Rao, put out a long note to thank everyone for their support. They also congratulated the teams of all the top 15 shortlisted films and wished them the very best in the next stages. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lost Ladies (@lostladiesfilm) Kiran Rao expresses gratitude While sharing the poster of Lost Ladies, they wrote, "Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies) did not make it to the Academy Awards shortlist this year, and we are, of course, disappointed, but equally, we are immensely grateful for the incredible support and belief we’ve received throughout this journey. We extend our gratitude to the Academy members and the FFI jury for considering our film. To be included in this prestigious process alongside some of the finest films from across the world is an honour in itself. Our heartfelt thanks to all the audiences around the world who have expressed their love and support for our film."Further, while congratulating the other films, they wrote, "We congratulate the teams of all the top 15 shortlisted films and wish them the very best in the next stages of the awards." "For us, this is not the end but a step forward. We remain committed to bringing more powerful stories to life and sharing them with the world. Thank you for being part of this journey," they concluded. About Laapataa Ladies Directed by Kiran Rao and produced under the banners of Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures, and Jio Studios, Laapataa Ladies was released in theatres on March 1, 2024. It starred Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam. Set against the backdrop of rural India, Laapataa Ladies revolves around the story of two young brides who get exchanged on a train. The film’s team, including director Kiran Rao and producer Aamir Khan, already kickstarted the campaign for Oscars 2025. The movie was screened in London recently. On November 12, a new poster for the film was unveiled with the title Lost Ladies. It highlighted a change for international audiences, as the Hindi word Laapataa was translated to its English word, Lost.
18 December,2024 04:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn 2015, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Bajirao Mastani' was released and truly captivated the hearts of the audience. With its immensely beautiful story of the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I and his second wife, Mastani, the film perfectly showcased their epic love story, adorned with SLB's opulent storytelling and enthralling sets. The film has also been noted for its scale, grandeur, and attention to detail. While SLB brought an immensely engaging story, it was the dialogues that made it even more appealing. Carrying the true fervor of love, bravery, resilience, and pride, the dialogues played an important role in making the film what it is today. On its 9th anniversary, let's revisit some truly amazing dialogues from this epic historical love story. 1. Baajirao ne Mastani se mohabbat ki hai aiyashi nahi._ 2. Ishq, jo tufani duniya se bagawat karjaye woh ishq, bharay darbar mein jo duniya se lad jaae woh ishq, jo mehboob ko dekhe toh khuda ko bhul jaae woh ishq._ 3. Kiski talvar par sir rakhu yeh bata do mujhe, ishq karna agar khata hai toh saza do mujhe._ 4. Aap Humse humari zindagi maang lete hum aap ko khushi khushi de dete, par aapne toh humse humara guroor cheen liya._ 5. Kiski talvar par sir rakhu yeh bata do mujhe, ishq karna agar khata hai toh saza do mujhe._ About Bajirao Mastani Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bajirao Mastani stars Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra in pivotal roles. At the 63rd National Film Awards, the film received 7 awards, including Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction. Among the film’s many highlights, Deepika Padukone's portrayal of Mastani is iconic and ‘Mastani’ continues to rule our hearts. Her performance as a courageous woman deeply in love and willing to sacrifice everything for Bajirao was unforgettable. The song "Deewani Mastani”, “Mohe Rang Do Laal” featuring Deepika's mesmerizing dance, remains etched in cinematic history and so is the chemistry between Ranveer and Deepika as Bajirao Mastani. Describing her character as Mastani Deepika said, “My character Mastani embodies today's woman. Someone who multi-tasked, someone who excelled in everything she did. She is not just an amazing woman but also a remarkable warrior, wonderful lover, mother, and daughter. There are so many shades in this character. She is so much in love with Bajirao that she sacrificed many things for him.”
18 December,2024 12:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTaapsee Pannu kickstarts her shoot for the much anticipated Gandhari by ace writer-producer Kanika Dhillon. The actor has dropped some interesting images from the first day of her shoot creating an intrigue amongst her audiences. Gandhari marks Kanika Dhillon and Taapsee Pannu's sixth collaboration after back-to-back success with Manmarziyaan, Haseen Dilruba, Phir Aayi Hasseen Dilruba and many more. The images from the first day of 'Gandhari' shoot portrays Taapsee in a never-before-seen before avatar. In fact, the actress has posed with her back to the camera so as to not unveil her unique look for the film in pictures from first day of shoot. Taapsee shared those images and wrote," Dear God, grant my request so that I may never deviate from doing good deeds. That, I shall have no fear of the enemy when I go into battle and with determination I will be victorious That, I may teach my mind to only sing your praises. And when the time comes, I should die fighting heroically on the field of battle 231 Let the war begin! Gandhari." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taapsee Pannu (@taapsee) Gandhari is the second project under Kanika Dhillon's banner Kathha Pictures post the success of mystery drama Do Patti and for this action drama the ace producer has roped in highly acclaimed director Devashish Makhija known for his movies like Bhonsle, Joram and others. Taapsee Pannu on working with Kanika Dhillon Earlier while talking about working with the writer, the 'Badla' actress said, “There’s a special kind of magic that happens when Kanika and I come together to work on a film,” Taapsee Pannu shares. “With 'Gandhari', we’re venturing into new emotional depths, and I’m thrilled to explore this intense character. I did action 9 years ago, and I've been waiting for a script that would bring me back to it and challenge me in new ways. After playing a spy, I was searching for something deeper, and 'Gandhari', with its powerful story of a mother driven by revenge, felt like the perfect fit. Collaborating with Netflix and Kathha Pictures allows us to craft bold, unique, and impactful stories. Working with Netflix has always been rewarding, as it enables us to reach a broader audience who shares our passion for filmmaking."
18 December,2024 12:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Kiran Rao's 'Laapataa Ladies', India's official entry for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards, failed to make it to the Oscars shortlist. Post this, three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej and filmmaker Hansal Mehta took to social media to criticise India's film selection for the Oscars by the Film Federation of India. Ricky Kej blames poor selection of movies for India's loss at Oscars After the Oscars shortlist was announced, musician Ricky Kej took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "So, the @TheAcademy Oscars shortlist is out. #LaapataaLadies is a very well made, entertaining movie (I enjoyed it), but was absolutely the wrong choice to represent India for the best #InternationalFeatureFilm category. As expected, it lost." He further criticised FFI for their selection of films and also took a dig at Laapataa Ladies poster. "When are we going to realize.. year after year.. we are choosing the wrong films. There are so many excellent movies made, and we should be winning the #InternationalFeatureFilm category every year! Unfortunately we live in a "Mainstream Bollywood" bubble, where we cannot look beyond films that we ourselves find entertaining. Instead we should just look for good films made by film-makers who are uncompromising in their art.. low budget or big budget.. star or no star.. just great artistic cinema. Below is the poster of #LaapataaLadies, I am sure most academy voting members dismissed the film just by looking at these." However, he further clarified that he loved the film by Kiran Rao but feels it was not made for the Oscars. "I re-iterate. Laapataa Ladies is a good film, well made, I myself found it engaging and entertaining.. handing subject matter well.. I even watched it a second time with friends. It is a film which fits well within the Indian mainstream.. and there is nothing wrong with that. But the treatment, style and presentation was not something that could ever win the "International Feature Film Category" at the Oscars. The poster itself, with the retro-collage look, the doodles, and the comic fonts does not show depth, that is usually preferred in this category," he added. So, the @TheAcademy Oscars shortlist is out. #LaapataaLadies is a very well made, entertaining movie (I enjoyed it), but was absolutely the wrong choice to represent India for the best #InternationalFeatureFilm category. As expected, it lost. When are we going to realize.. year… pic.twitter.com/iWGpSXY1KD — Ricky Kej (@rickykej) December 18, 2024 Hansal Mehta takes a dig at FFI Mehta took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment. He shared a screenshot of the shortlisted films in the Best International Feature category and questioned India's film "selection" process. "Film Federation of India does it again! Their strike rate and selection of films year after year is impeccable," he wrote. Film Federation of India does it again! Their strike rate and selection of films year after year is impeccable. pic.twitter.com/hiwmatzDbW — Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 17, 2024
18 December,2024 11:53 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRapper Badshah recently enthralled fans with his surprise performance at 'Tauba Tauba' hitmaker Karan Aujla's concert in Gurugram. However, he later found himself in the midst of controversy as several reports surfaced online claiming he was fined for allegedly violating traffic rules, including driving on the wrong side of the road. It was reported that his convoy was fined Rs 15,000 for rule violation. Now the rapper has reacted to the matter with facts. On Tuesday night, Badshah took to his Instagram stories and wrote, "Bhai Thar to hai bhi nai mere paas, na main drive kar raha tha us din. I was being driven in a white Vellfire and we always drive responsibly, Chahe gaadiyan chahe game." Badshah appeared at Karan Aujla's concert held at Aria Mall, Gurugram on December 15. A post about Badshah's convoy breaking traffic rules had gone viral on social media prompting a response from the traffic department. It was reported that vehicle did not belong to the rapper and was registered in the name of a youth from Panipat. After the post about Badshah violating traffic rules went viral, Gurugram Traffic Police issued a challan to the rapper. "A challan of Rs 15,500 has been issued against one vehicle remaining two of the convoy are being identified. Soon fines under the MV (Motor Vehicles) Act 2019 will also be issued," said a traffic police official on the condition of anonymity. Badshah's team issues statement The rapper's team also issued an official statement on the matter while denying traffic violation claims. "We are issuing this statement to address recent defamatory reports and false accusations regarding a traffic incident involving Badshah following the Karan Aujla concert on December 15th, 2024, in the Delhi NCR region. These reports allege that Badshah was involved in a traffic violation, specifically driving on the wrong side of the road. We want to unequivocally state that this allegation is completely false," the statement read. The team further stated that "no fine was levied" on any vehicle associated with the rapper and his team. Stating that they are fully cooperating with the inquiries, Badshah's team affirmed that the "truth will be readily apparent." It also alleged that they made "repeated attempts" to contact the authorities, but to "no avail." "We categorically deny any involvement of Badshah or his team in the reported traffic violation. None of the vehicles in our party, including those transporting Badshah, were involved in the incident of driving on the wrong side of the road. Furthermore, no fines were issued to any vehicles associated with Badshah or his team that evening," the statement read. "We have complete confidence in our transportation provider and their professionally licensed drivers. We are cooperating fully with any official inquiries into this matter and will provide all necessary documentation to confirm Badshah's whereabouts and travel arrangements that evening. We urge responsible reporting based on verified information, and we trust that the truth will be readily apparent," the statement added. (with inputs from ANI)
18 December,2024 10:25 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMukesh Khanna who is popularly known for essaying the role of 'Shaktimaan' on Indian television triggered the Sinha father-daughter duo by commenting on an old incident involving Sonakshi. Khanna questioned the 'Dabangg' actress' upbringing when he recalled her not correctly answering a question on 'Ramayan' on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 11'. Now, Shatrughan Sinha has come to his daughter's defense and slammed Khanna for his comment. Shatrughan Sinha responds to Mukesh Khanna's statement In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, senior Sinha slammed Khanna for his comment on his daughter and her upbringing. "I believe someone has a problem with Sonakshi not answering a question on the Ramayana. Firstly what qualifies this person to be an expert on all things to do with the Ramayana? And who has appointed him the guardian of the Hindu religion?" He also defended his daughter and spoke about her not being able to answer a question on the Ramayana. "I am very proud of all my three children. Sonakshi became a star on her own. I never had to launch her career. She is a daughter any father would be proud to have. Not answering a question on the Ramayana doesn’t disqualify Sonakshi from being a good Hindu. She doesn’t need a certificate of approval from anyone.” Mukesh Khanna vs Sonakshi Sinha After Khanna took a jibe at Sonakshi's upbringing for failing to answer a question on the Hindu epic, the actress slammed the senior star in an open note on Instagram. The actor asked Khanna to stop bringing up the same incident to make "news at the expense" of her and her family. "... The next time you decide to say anything about the values my father has instilled in me... please remember it's because of those values that I have only said what I said, very respectfully, after you decided to make some distasteful statements about my upbringing." Sonakshi said though she "blanked out" during her appearance on KBC, she wondered how Khanna could forget the lessons to "forgive and forget" taught by Lord Ram himself". "If Lord Ram can forgive Manthara, if he can forgive Kaikeyi... if he can even forgive Ravan after the great battle was done, surely you can let go of this extremely small thing in comparison.. not that I need your forgiveness," added the Dahaad star. Mukesh Khanna had no intention to malign Sonakshi Sinha Speaking to News9, Mukesh Khanna said, "I am surprised she took so much time to react. I knew I was antagonising her by taking her name from that incident in the famous Kaun Banega Crorepati show. But I had no malicious intention to malign her or her father who is my senior and I have a very cordial relationship with him.” He added, "My intention was to react to today’s generation, which is called ‘Genz’ by elders, which has become slaves to today’s Google world and mobile phones. Their knowledge is limited to Wikipedia and social interactions on YouTube. And here I had a Hi-Fi case in front of me which I could use to teach others. Fathers, sons, daughters."
18 December,2024 09:56 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Preity Zinta, who is known for ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, ‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’ and others, has shared a post on social media which has caused an uproar on the Internet. The actress took to her X, formerly Twitter, and wrote, “Support the country you live in or live in the country you support. “Support the country you live in or live in the country you support !” #ThoughtForTheDay — Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) December 17, 2024 #ThoughtForTheDay”. While the actress didn’t take any names, people on the Internet feel that the actress made a snarky remark on Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh or politician Priyanka Gandhi. One user on the Internet wrote, “Gandhi parivar ke liye thought for a lifetime”. Another wrote, “Good thought. If one isn't loyal to their own country, showing camaraderie with another won't help”. A third user wrote, “This tweet is for Gandhi family”. Another user tagged Diljit Dosanjh in the comments. Earlier, the actress had shared a heartwarming post about her son Jai cooking Indian flat bread, ‘Roti’. On Sunday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared three pictures of Jai making rotis with his grandmother. She wrote in the caption, “The best things in life are free. Like the joy of eating this Roti made by nani ma and our youngest chef Jai. Happy Sunday everyone”. Jai, who is the son of the actress and her husband Gene Goodenough, was born in 2021 via surrogacy. The couple also have a daughter named Gia. Prior to that, the actress participated in the IPL auctions. After her digital detox, she invited recommendations from her Instagram followers for the players that she could pick in her IPL team. The actress took to her Instagram at the time, and shared a video from the balcony of her hotel room. The video showed the skyline of Jeddah. She wrote in the caption, “Done with my digital detox. Landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the IPL Auction. Watch this space for some amazing new announcements folks. Till then all recommendations for our new team are welcome. Bring it on #Ting #IPLAuction2025 #Saddasquad @punjabkingsipl”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 December,2024 08:17 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP-actor Hema Malini recently bumped into veteran lyricist Gulzar while the two were en route to Delhi. The two bonded over good old moments spent on the sets of films such as Meera, Khushboo and Kinara. Taking to Instagram, Hema Malini shared pictures from her "pleasant meeting" with Gulzar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dream Girl Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhemamalini) "Had such a pleasant, surprise meeting on my flt to Delhi! My travel companion was Gulzar ji who I met after so many years. It was lovely catching up with him all those years plus recalling the wonderful movies we had made together - Meera, Khushboo, Kinara etc. We had so much to talk about that we were still discussing when we landed in Delhi," she wrote. In one of the images, the duo can be seen engrossed in their chit-chat. As soon as Hema Malini dropped this post, fans chimed in the comment section and reacted to the pictures with heartfelt comments. "You both created some of the iconic films together!! Legendary!," a social media user wrote. "Beautiful pictures," another user commented. Meanwhile, recently, Hema Malini participated in ISKCON's Rath Yatra in Mathura. During the yatra, she spoke with media and said, "Krishna bhakts have taken out this Rath Yatra. Devotees from across the world are participating in this Rath Yatra...I pray for healthy and prosperous lives of everyone..." She also shared her insights on the growth of the Braj Raj Utsav, an annual 10-day cultural festival in Uttar Pradesh that has evolved into a major celebration of the region's art, spirituality, and craftsmanship. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 December,2024 08:08 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIADVERTISEMENT
