The race to represent India at the Academy Awards is always a high-stakes, high-tension affair, but this year’s selection process for the 99th Oscars has ignited a particularly spirited debate. With the Marathi thriller Gondhal officially locking in its spot as India’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category, the conversation has inevitably pivoted to the notable omission of the Ranveer Singh-led franchise, Dhurandhar.
As the dust settles, industry insiders and fans alike are dissecting the mechanics of the Film Federation of India (FFI) selection process. Breaking the silence on the deliberations, jury member Vivek Vaswani has provided a rare, granular look at why the star-studded action spectacle didn’t make the final cut, revealing that the film secured only four votes out of a 14-member panel.
The Reality Check for ‘Dhurandhar’
For many, the exclusion of a film featuring a powerhouse like Ranveer Singh—and a cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and R. Madhavan—seemed surprising. However, the jury’s mandate is not necessarily to pick the biggest box-office performer, but rather the film with the most potent “Oscar appeal.”
In a candid conversation with NDTV, Vivek Vaswani clarified that while the project had its champions, it simply didn’t cross the threshold required for a global submission. “Couple of people liked it, but we didn’t think that it was Oscar material,” Vaswani stated. When pressed on the specifics, he confirmed the final vote tally for Dhurandhar was just four. It is a sobering reminder that star power and massive production budgets do not always translate to the specific aesthetic or thematic requirements that FFI jurors prioritize when looking for an international breakout.
Seeking Cultural Authenticity Over Spectacle
The crux of the jury’s decision appears to be a desire to project a specific image of Indian cinema to the world. Vaswani emphasized that the panel was searching for a film capable of representing the depth of Indian culture in a distinct, meaningful, and singular way.
While Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, has delivered two high-octane installments since late 2025—earning its place as a commercial juggernaut—the jury felt the franchise leaned heavily into tropes that, while successful at home, might not necessarily resonate with the Academy’s specific brand of global storytelling. The push-and-pull between “commercial viability” and “artistic export” remains the eternal tension of the Oscar selection committee, and this year, the scales clearly tipped toward the latter.
Why ‘Gondhal’ Stole the Spotlight
The competition was fierce, with 33 films from across the cinematic landscape—spanning Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Hindi—vying for the single spot. Gondhal, directed by Santosh Davakhar, eventually emerged as the standout from a shortlist that included Angh and Maine Vaapas Aaunga.
What won the jury over? Authenticity. By grounding its narrative in the traditional ‘Gondhal’ ritual of Maharashtra—a complex folk art form that weaves together music, dance, and profound mythology—the film offers the Academy a glimpse into a niche, historical facet of Indian identity that is rarely seen on the international stage.
The film comes with a strong pedigree, having already made waves at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025, where Davakhar earned the Silver Peacock for Best Director. With a cast featuring the seasoned Kishor Kadam and the legendary Ilaiyaraaja on the musical score, Gondhal represents a calculated, artistic gamble that aims to pique the interest of international voters who are often drawn to stories that feel rooted, visceral, and culturally transformative.
The Burden of Expectations
It is impossible to ignore the weight of expectations surrounding Dhurandhar. Since its inception in December 2025, the franchise has been marketed as a cinematic event. Bringing together heavyweights like Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Ranveer Singh is a logistical and financial feat. However, the Oscar race is a different beast entirely. It rewards the unconventional, the deeply regional, and the visually poetic.
The fact that Dhurandhar secured four votes suggests that there is an appreciation for its technical prowess, but perhaps a lack of consensus that it possesses the “soul” required to survive the grueling shortlist phase in Los Angeles. For the production team, missing the Oscar bus is a setback, but it hardly diminishes the film’s standing within the domestic industry.
Looking Ahead to March 2027
As we look toward the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 14, 2027, the spotlight now shifts entirely to Gondhal. The selection committee has made its move, signaling a shift in priorities—a move away from the “masala” blockbuster in favor of a folk-inspired, culturally specific narrative.
The international stage is unforgiving, and the Best International Feature Film category is notoriously competitive. Gondhal will need more than just its cultural pedigree to stand out among global contenders. It will need a strategic campaign, international distribution, and a bit of that elusive Oscar magic.
Regardless of the outcome in March, the discourse ignited by the jury’s decision serves as a healthy reminder of the state of Indian cinema: we are living in a period where, despite the dominance of grand franchises, there is still a burning desire among our institutions to champion the smaller, deeper, and more daring stories that define the heartbeat of the nation. Whether Gondhal can deliver that heartbeat to the Dolby Theatre remains the most exciting question of the year.
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