Bollywood has made it back to the Oscars and how! After Barfi which was the last mainstream film representing India in 2012, it is now Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy that India’s official entry to the 92nd Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
The Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer Gully Boy was inspired by the lives of street rappers Divine and Naezy. the movie’s plot revolved around Murad, an aspiring rapper from the Dharavi slums and how he turned his dream into a reality through sheer hard work and talent.
The entire cast and crew of the film can’t seem to contain their excitement and why should they! While Ranveer has called the Oscars entry a ‘proud moment’, Alia is constantly hoping & praying that the movie wins. Both actors took to social media and shared the same post. Ranveer also captioned the message, “Apna Time Aayega!”
While speaking to a leading news agency, Alia Bhatt said “Gully Boy as a film is really special to me. What’s even more special is that it has had such a long run – after releasing in February, it won at the Melbourne Film Festival, then it was also shown in Japan. Now, it’s been selected as India’s official entry for the Academy. So, hereon, I just hope, pray and wish that we make it to the nomination and then win. This is a first and it’s a big deal for us. As a team, we are very excited”.
“It’s a proud moment for our entire team. I’m especially proud of and happy for Zoya! Gully Boy is her (Tiger) baby, and I am blessed to have been a part of her maverick vision,” said Ranveer. An elated & excited Zoya also told the media, “This has been a great year and I am so overwhelmed with the response our work is getting. I am thrilled and very grateful that ‘Gully Boy’ has been picked as India’s official entry for the Oscars.”
Meanwhile, wishes are pouring in for Gully Boy from across the film industry. Zoya Akhtar’s brother Farhan Akhtar and Filmmaker Karan Johar were among the first few to congratulate the movie’s cast and crew.
My absolute favourite film of the year is the official Indian entry for the OSCARS!!!! #GullyBoy all the way! Zoya Akhtar is my favourite Indian filmmaker! Well done boys @FarOutAkhtar @ritesh_sid get the gold statue home!!! So excited !! @aliaa08 @RanveerOfficial and the team!
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) September 21, 2019
#GullyBoy has been selected as India’s official entry to the 92nd Oscar Awards. #apnatimeaayega
Thank you to the film federation and congratulations #Zoya @kagtireema @ritesh_sid @RanveerOfficial @aliaa08 @SiddhantChturvD @kalkikanmani & cast, crew and hip hop crew. 🕺🏻 pic.twitter.com/Eyg02iETmG— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) September 21, 2019
Filmmaker, actor Aparna Sen (the chairperson of the jury that met in Kolkata this week) revealed that it was the ‘Feel-good factor’ of the movie that fetches it the Oscar nomination. Well, doesn’t this nomination make all of us ‘feel good’, literally? We wish Gully Boy all the very best. Oscars, here we come!
Featured Image: Instagram
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