Aamir Khan REACTS to Shah Rukh Khan’s view on Indian films securing nominations at the Oscars: “People forget that this is the toughest category”

Actor Aamir Khan, whose Lagaan was the last Indian film to be nominated for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, recently shared his thoughts on why it is difficult for Indian films to gain traction at the Academy Awards. While promoting Lapata Ladies, India's official Oscar nominee this year, Aamir expressed his disagreement with fellow actor Shah Rukh Khan's opinion on the issue. 

Shah Rukh Khan's take on Indian films at the Oscars 

In an earlier interview, Shah Rukh Khan blamed the lack of Indian films at the Oscars on its format, saying, "We need to change the format of films. If I am invited to your party, I have to dress according to the norms you give me. I can't stick to my norms of two and a half hours and five songs." Shah Rukh also stressed that it is a blend of art and commercial cinema and called it a "brilliantly made film." 

Aamir Khan's response 

Aamir Khan respectfully disagreed with Shah Rukh's assessment. "No, I don't agree. I don't agree because Lagaan lasted three hours and 42 minutes. And it had six songs. And it was nominated," he explained in an interview with BBC Asia Network. According to Aamir, what matters most is the quality of storytelling and the emotional impact of the film. "To be nominated, the members have to really love your film. Lagaan has proven that for the Academy members, a film with songs (which is also very long) doesn't matter. It's about how good your work is and how much it can move people," he added. 

The challenges of getting an Oscar nomination Aamir explained the complexities of getting a nomination for the Best International Feature Film category. "People forget that this is the toughest category in the Oscars. It pits the best films from each country against each other. In India alone, 1,000 films are made a year. To get selected in India, you first have to compete against 1,000 other films. And you're standing in an arena where 80 other films are being screened," he said. "Being nominated among 80 films is a big deal," he said. 

Indian Films and the Oscars: A Journey of Difference 

So far, only three Indian films have been nominated in the Best International Feature Film category - Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan. But in recent years, Indian films have been gaining international recognition. RRR won in the Best Original Song category, while The Elephant Whisperers won in the Best Documentary Short Film category. 

Aamir is confident about India's chances this year with Lapata Ladies, directed and produced by his ex-wife Kiran Rao. Through film selection and promotion, each country strives to stand out at the prestigious awards ceremony.