Laapataa Ladies actor Chhaya Kadam admits 'feeling bad' as All We Imagine As Light isn't picked as India’s Oscars entry

Chhaya Kadam has reacted to the backlash on social media to her other film All We Imagine As Light not being selected as India's official entry for Oscar 2025.

Actor Chhaya Kadam, whose Kiran Rao film Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India's official entry to the Oscars next year, has reacted to her other movie, All We Imagine As Light, not being chosen. In an interview with India Today, the actor, who played Manju Mai in Laapataa Ladies, said she was happy about the film's Oscar entry, but also felt 'bad' as Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light lost the Oscar race.

‘It is a moment of pride for me’

(From left) Actors Kani Kusruti and Chhaya Kadam, director Payal Kapadia and actor Divya Prabha of All We Imagine as Light, which won the Grand Prix, the second-most-prestigious prize at Cannes 2024. (File Photo/ Reuters)

Speaking about Laapataa Ladies' Oscar entry, she said, “I am very happy and excited. What more can I say? It is a moment of pride for me that our film, Laapataa Ladies, got selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. On the other hand, my other film, All We Imagine As Light, was also shortlisted by France as a potential submission for the Oscars 2025. I have come to Paris right now for the premiere.”

Actor Chhaya Kadam in a still from Laapataa Ladies.

‘I would have loved to see both the films at Oscars’

The Film Federation of India announced on Monday in Chennai that Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies has been picked as India's official entry for the Oscars in 2025. The news has X (formerly known as Twitter) abuzz ever since.

The Hindi film, a light-hearted satire on patriarchy, was chosen from a list of 29 films, including Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal, Malayalam National Award-winner Aattam and Cannes-winner All We Imagine As Light. Many wanted to see All We Imagine As Light as India's official Oscar entry.

An X user said, "The Indian Oscar jury has continued its stupidity streak and selected Laapataa Ladies for Oscars instead of Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light..." Back in May 2024, All We Imagine As Light scripted history as it became the first Indian film to win Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival 2024.