Jaipur, India – The film that was presented as the official entrance of Oscar in India, but could not make the final list of nominees has swept the International Awards of the Indian Film Academy, which recognize an outstanding work in the country’s film industry.
The acclaimed “Laapataa Ladies” by director Kiran Rao, renamed “Lost Ladies” for his Oscar campaign, emerged as the greatest winner at the IIFA 2025 awards, pushing 10 wins, including the best film and the best direction.
Comedy 2023 is one of two veiled girlfriends that are accidentally exchanged during a train trip, and addresses problems of patriarchy and gender roles, a change of decades of main Indian films centered on men.
“It is a weird privilege to win a prize for a film like ‘Laapataa Ladies’. It has been a wonderful night. It is a rare privilege to make a film like this,” said Rao in his acceptance speech.
Rao’s film, a rare deviation from most Bollywood films, which generally have songs of songs and dances, violence and melodrama, also won in categories for the best story, the best script and the best actress in a main role.
IIFA’s annual ceremony began in the western city of Jaipur on Saturday and concluded on Sunday.
The most recognizable names of Indian cinema participated in the dazzling event and the Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan superstar and actor Shahid Kapoor were among those who performed at the ceremony. The event was organized by veteran director and producer Karan Johar and actor Kartik Aaryan.
The awards exhibition also presents an opportunity for Indian celebrities to show their fashion, and this year was no exception. Notable figures such as Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor Khan showed their fashion options on the green carpet.
