Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Why Dhurandhar Missed India’s 2027 Oscar Selection
India had to choose one film to send to the 2027 Academy Awards.
Ranveer Singh’s film Dhurandhar and its sequel were considered for the spot.
Jury member Vivek Vaswani said Dhurandhar received four votes from a 14-member jury.
He also said the jury did not think the films were suitable Oscar contenders.
The jury wanted a film that showed Indian culture in a particular way.
It chose Gondhal, a Marathi thriller connected to Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual.
Gondhal was one of the final three films, along with Angh and Maine Vaapas Aayunga.
Dhurandhar may still apply separately for Oscar consideration.
The reports differed over whether 33 or 31 films were initially submitted.
Marathi thriller Gondhal was selected as India’s official entry for the 2027 Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category.
Jury member Vivek Vaswani said Dhurandhar received four votes from the 14-member selection panel.
Vaswani said the jury did not consider Dhurandhar or Dhurandhar: The Revenge to be Oscar material.
He said the films did not represent Indian culture in the way the jury was seeking.
Gondhal, Angh and Maine Vaapas Aayunga were the final three films; reports differed on whether 33 or 31 films were submitted initially.
- Who
- The Film Federation of India jury, including member Vivek Vaswani, selected Gondhal over films including Dhurandhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Angh and Maine Vaapas Aayunga.
- What
- Gondhal was chosen as India’s official entry for the 2027 Academy Awards, while Dhurandhar and its sequel were not selected.
- When
- The selection is for the 2027 Academy Awards, scheduled for March 14, 2027.
- Where
- The selection was made in India; Gondhal is set against Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual and folk-performance form.
- Why
- Vaswani said the jury sought a film that represented Indian culture in a particular way and did not consider Dhurandhar or its sequel Oscar material.
Cultural Representation
Popularity and Oscar Eligibility
Basis for selection
Cultural Representation
The jury emphasized cultural representation and favored Gondhal because it depicts Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual and folk-performance form.
Popularity and Oscar Eligibility
Dhurandhar and its sequel were among the year’s major Hindi releases, but their popularity and commercial profile did not lead to selection.
Assessment of Dhurandhar
Cultural Representation
Vivek Vaswani said the jury did not consider Dhurandhar or Dhurandhar: The Revenge to be Oscar material, and Dhurandhar received only four votes.
Popularity and Oscar Eligibility
Not being chosen as India’s official entry does not necessarily end the films’ Oscar prospects, since they may apply separately, as RRR did.
- Selected film
- Gondhal
- Oscar category
- Best International Feature Film
- Jury size
- 14 members
- Dhurandhar votes
- Four
- Final three
- Gondhal, Angh and Maine Vaapas Aayunga
- Director and writer
- Santosh Davakhar
- Selection pool
- One report said 33 films were submitted; another listed language totals adding up to 31
