Hansal Mehta Mocks FFI After Laapataa Ladies Exits Oscars 2025 Race: 'Their Film Selections Are...'

Director Hansal Mehta criticized the Film Federation of India after Laapataa Ladies was not shortlisted for the Oscars 2025. Under the direction of Kiran Rao, the movie had been India's official entry in the Best International Feature category. The news on Tuesday was that the film was not in the running for a shortlist. This led to Hansal taking to X to mock the FFI for its selection.

Sharing the list of films that have been shortlisted for the category at the 97th Academy Awards, Hansal wrote, “Film Federation of India does it again! Their strike rate and selection of films year after year is impeccable.”

In addition to Hansal Mehta, musician Ricky Kej and numerous social media users also criticized the FFI’s decision to select Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry for the Oscars this year. "While #LaapataaLadies is a well-made and entertaining movie (which I enjoyed), it was clearly the wrong choice to represent India in the Best #InternationalFeatureFilm category. As expected, it didn't make it," Ricky wrote.

“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,” he added.

“It’s a crying shame. Not only did India not submit it, the movie that was submitted wasn’t even shortlisted. Fire the entire Film Federation of India body, and get some people who have sense and taste,” a social media user wrote.

Then again, there are fans who dream that Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light will be acknowledged at the Oscars 2025. Already nominated for the 2025 Golden Globe Awards and Critics' Choice Awards, the film has a pretty amazing run thus far.