India’s official Oscar entry, which failed to make the cut, wins big at major Bollywood awards show

The film that was submitted as India’s official Oscar entry but failed to make the final list of nominees has swept the International Indian Film Academy Awards. The critically acclaimed “Laapataa Ladies” emerged as the biggest winner at the 2025 IIFA Awards, bagging 10 wins, including best picture and best direction. The 2023 comedy is about two veiled brides who are accidentally swapped during a train ride, and tackles issues of patriarchy and gender roles, a shift from decades of male-centered mainstream Indian movies. The annual ceremony of the IIFA, which recognizes outstanding work in the Indian film industry, began in the western city of Jaipur on Saturday and concluded Sunday.