By Grace Cyril,News18,Sahas Mahapatra

Copyright news18

Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies has gradually gained international acclaim. From its gripping storyline to the stellar performances of the cast, every aspect of the film has been widely appreciated. Laapataa Ladies has received numerous accolades domestically and was even in the running for the Oscars. Most recently, it won the Best Film Popular Award at the Movified Digital Awards. The filmmaker expressed her gratitude, thanking everyone who voted for the film.
In a video, Kiran Rao was seen holding the trophy and saying, “Thank You all for voting for our film..it means a lot to the cast and crew. We all are incredibly thrilled to receive this award.” This special award is designed to recognise the best of Indian cinema, giving fans the chance to vote for their favourites and honour films that truly resonate with them.

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All About Laapataa Ladies
Laapataa Ladies was released theatrically on March 1, 2024. The lead actors in Kiran Rao’s film are Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Ravi Kishan. The film, produced by Aamir Khan Productions and Kindling Productions, marks Kiran Rao’s directorial comeback following Dhobi Ghat. Prior to its theatrical release, the film was shown at the famous Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023. The festival audience responded with a standing ovation. Laapataa Ladies was later chosen as India’s official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars.
What’s Next For Kiran Rao?
On the professional front, Kiran Rao has joined the team of Humans in the Loop as an executive producer. The award-winning feature tells the story of an Adivasi woman working as an AI data-labeller. Alongside Kiran Rao, Biju Toppo has also come on board as executive producer. Their involvement marks a significant milestone for the film, which is rapidly gaining recognition as one of India’s most urgent and globally relevant independent movies.
Set in Jharkhand, the story follows Nehma, an Oraon Adivasi woman, whose work in an AI data-labelling exposes the hidden labour underpinning modern technology. Kiran Rao has previously championed independent cinema, including Anand Gandhi’s Ship of Theseus and Karan Tejpal’s Stolen.