Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone has expressed her frustration over the lack of recognition for Indian films at the prestigious Academy Awards. In a candid video shared on Instagram while preparing for the Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris, Padukone reflected on India’s journey at the Oscars and voiced her disappointment at the consistent exclusion of deserving Indian films and talent.
“India has been robbed of the Oscars many times. Many deserving movies and talents have been snubbed,” Padukone said, shedding light on the long-standing issue of Indian cinema’s neglect by the Academy.
The actor recalled her experience at the 2023 Academy Awards, when RRR won the Oscar for Best Original Song for the chart-topping track Naatu Naatu. Despite having no direct involvement in the film, Padukone described the moment as deeply emotional. “Outside of being an Indian, I really had nothing to do with that movie, but that was a huge, huge moment. That felt very, very personal,” she remarked, emphasizing the pride felt by the Indian film community.
In her video, Padukone also highlighted the international recognition garnered by several Indian films, including Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, Rahi Anil Barve’s Tumbbad, and Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox. Despite critical acclaim, none of these films managed to secure Oscar nominations, a fact Padukone pointed out as further evidence of the Oscars’ systemic bias against Indian cinema.
Padukone, who had the honor of presenting an award at the 2023 Oscars, also acknowledged the success of actor Adrien Brody, who won the Best Actor category for his role in The Brutalist at this year’s ceremony.
At the 97th Academy Awards, Anora emerged as the biggest winner, securing five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, and Best Director for Sean Baker. While some may celebrate these achievements, Padukone’s remarks underscore a broader issue—one that continues to fuel debates about diversity and representation in Hollywood’s most prestigious event.
