Indian actress Deepika Padukone has criticized the Academy Awards for consistently overlooking Indian films and talent, stating that India has been “robbed of the Oscars many times.”
In a behind-the-scenes Instagram video shared while preparing for the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week, Deepika reflected on her personal connection to the Oscars. She recalled feeling emotional when RRR‘s song Naatu Naatu won Best Original Song at the 2023 ceremony.
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“India has been denied the Oscars multiple times. Many deserving films and talented individuals have been snubbed,” Deepika remarked. “I remember being in the audience when RRR won, and I got emotional. I had no direct connection to the film, but as an Indian, it was a deeply personal moment.”
Deepika, who introduced Naatu Naatu on stage at the Oscars that year, posted the video on Sunday with the caption, “@adrienbrody take a bow!” referring to her favorite win from the 2025 ceremony—Adrien Brody’s Best Actor victory for The Brutalist.
The video also showcased clips from several acclaimed Indian films, including Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, Rahi Anil Barve’s Tumbadd, and Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox. Despite receiving widespread critical acclaim, none of these films were nominated for the Oscars.
Deepika’s comments contribute to the ongoing discussion about the lack of global recognition for Indian cinema, particularly at the Academy Awards.
This year, the top winner at the Oscars was Anora, securing five awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, and Best Director for Sean Baker.
Deepika Padukone attended the Louis Vuitton show at the Cour Carrée in the Louvre as the luxury brand’s global ambassador, making history as the first Indian celebrity in this role. She also recently spoke at the Forbes 30/50 Global Summit in Abu Dhabi and was last seen in the sci-fi film Kalki 2898 AD.
