Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao Launch Oscar Campaign with New Title and Poster for Laapataa Ladies

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao have begun their promotional campaign for Laapataa Ladies, which has now been renamed Lost Ladies for its international audience, as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars.

The campaign kicked off in New York with a visit to The Bungalow, an Indian restaurant owned by celebrity chef Vikas Khanna. The couple enjoyed a lavish spread of dishes, and their experience was shared on Instagram stories by New York restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi and The Bungalow’s official account.

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao Launch Lost Ladies Oscars Campaign in New York

In one of the clips, Aamir is seen talking to a young chef named Mysha, who prepared the meals, with Vikas Khanna praising her effort, saying the dishes were made with “loads of love.” Another clip features Aamir savoring golgappas, while Vikas also posted a picture of Aamir with Mysha, captioning it, “My two favorite people in the world.” Kiran Rao also shared a cheerful selfie with chef Vikas on her Instagram stories.

Laapataa Ladies was chosen as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards. On Tuesday, a new poster for the film was unveiled with its updated title, Lost Ladies, to make it more accessible to an international audience.

The poster was accompanied by the caption, “Official entry: India. Best International Feature Film – 97th Academy Awards.” Nitanshi Goel, who portrays Phool in the film, shared the poster on her Instagram, saying, “Presenting the official poster for #LostLadies—a glimpse into the wild, heartfelt journey of Phool and Jaya!”

Describing Lost Ladies as a “very important” film, producers Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao highlighted its exploration of themes like women’s agency, financial independence, and male allyship.

A Comedy with a Profound Message

Rao explained that when she first heard the story, it resonated with her deeply. She shared, “I’ve seen so many women who have not had the agency or the choice that I’ve had in my life to do as I please.”

She emphasized that the film, through its humor, addresses significant societal issues like patriarchy and women’s rights. The movie, directed by Rao, gave her a platform to explore these deep-rooted issues with a “comedy of errors” approach.

Along with Khan, Rao, and Jio Studios President Jyoti Deshpande, the team is currently touring the U.S., hosting screenings and engaging with audiences to promote the film. After their screenings in New York, they have now moved on to Los Angeles.

The Oscars shortlists will be revealed on December 17, followed by nominations on January 17, 2025, with the Academy Awards scheduled for March 2, 2025.

Speaking at a screening in Manhattan hosted by fashion designer Prabal Gurung, Aamir Khan recalled how he was immediately drawn to the script when he first read it. He shared that it “made me laugh, it made me cry, and it was very entertaining.”

Exploring Women’s Agency and Male Allyship in Lost Ladies

Khan emphasized that while the film focuses on women’s rights, it also highlights the importance of male allyship, stating, “It’s also high time that men also kind of contribute to that.”

He continued, saying that the film showcases how both men and women should support each other. “It feels strange to stand by and watch someone getting such an unfair deal,” he added. “I’m so glad that the film really showcases that.”

When asked how Lost Ladies reflects her vision for Indian cinema and global storytelling, Deshpande noted that it aligns perfectly with their mission of promoting Indian stories to the world. She called the film a “shining beacon” of the “Make in India, Show the world” initiative, emphasizing that it celebrates Indian culture and values on a global stage.

Aamir Khan, whose previous film Lagaan was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002, expressed his hope that Lost Ladies would deeply connect with audiences. “I think people have liked it, and they have connected rather deeply with the film,” he said. He praised Rao’s direction, noting that every film has its unique journey, and once released, it belongs to the audience.

Lost Ladies Aims to Spark Conversations and Inspire Change

Kiran Rao shared that her main goal with Lost Ladies was to spark important conversations. “I hope it makes people be kind to one another, to go out and give all the women in their lives a big hug, to hold each other up, to support each other,” she said.

Deshpande concluded by sharing what she hopes viewers will take away from the film. “It’s a big-hearted film with a very big, profound message without being preachy,” she said. “I just hope that they love the film enough to tell other people about it and to go watch it.”

The film, which follows the story of two brides, Phool and Jaya, who are accidentally swapped during a train journey, stars Nitanshi Goel and Pratibha Ranta in the lead roles. It also features Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma. Lost Ladies continues to gain attention for its heartfelt narrative, resonating with both Indian and international audiences.