The relationship between Indian films and the Oscars has been anything but easy, with only two feature films—Nargis and Mehboob Khan’s Mother India and Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan—making it to the prestigious Best Foreign Language Film category. This year, Aamir Khan is once again vying for the Oscars with his latest production, Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies), directed by Kiran Rao.

The film tells the story of two young brides who get switched during a train journey to their husbands’ homes. Written by Biplab Goswami, with a screenplay by Sneha Desai, the story explores themes ranging from patriarchy to women’s liberation.
ETimes has exclusively learned that while Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao have already visited the United States to promote the film and ensure it is screened for as many Academy members as possible, they will soon be joined by the cast, including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastav. The Oscar nominations are set to be announced in January, with the awards ceremony scheduled for March.
The film, which was released in India on March 1, enjoyed a theatrical run of nearly four months and grossed over ₹20 crore at the box office. It has also garnered praise from notable personalities, including cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Sharing his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “A big-hearted fable set in small-town India that speaks to one at so many levels. I loved Laapataa Ladies for its delightful story, powerhouse performances, and the subtlety with which it delivered important social messages so cleverly, without overt preaching. A must-watch for everyone, and trust me, you will laugh, cry, and rejoice with the characters as they find their destinies in the movie. A big congratulations to my friends Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan!”