Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar was among the films considered for India’s official entry to the 99th Academy Awards, but the film ultimately failed to make the cut. Vivek Vaswani, a member of the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury, has now revealed that Dhurandhar received four votes from the 14-member jury during the selection process.
Marathi thriller Gondhal was eventually chosen to represent India at the Oscars 2027. The decision came after the jury evaluated 33 films submitted for consideration.
Dhurandhar Received Four Votes From The Jury
Speaking to NDTV, Vivek Vaswani opened up about the jury’s discussion around Dhurandhar. He revealed that while some members appreciated the Ranveer Singh-led film, they did not consider it suitable as India’s Oscar submission.
“Couple of people liked it but we didn’t think that it was Oscar material,” Vivek said.
He further explained that the jury was looking for a film that represented Indian culture in a particular way. According to him, the members felt that Dhurandhar did not meet that expectation.
With 14 members on the jury, Dhurandhar received four votes during the selection process, while Gondhal eventually emerged as the final choice.
Gondhal Selected From 33 Films
Gondhal was selected from a list of 33 films submitted for consideration. The entries represented multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati and Tamil.
The final three films considered by the jury were Gondhal, Angh and Maine Vaapas Aaunga. After deliberations, the Marathi thriller was selected as India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category.
Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is set in rural Maharashtra and revolves around the traditional Gondhal ritual. The film uses the cultural setting as an important part of its story, combining family tensions, relationships and a growing sense of danger.
The film stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu in key roles. Music for the film has been composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
Gondhal’s Festival Journey
The Oscar selection adds another major milestone to Gondhal’s festival journey.
Santosh Davakhar previously won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025. The film also received the FIPRESCI Award at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival.
The story centres on Suman, played by Ishita Deshmukh, whose marriage to Anand becomes the starting point for a series of complicated events. Former relationships, family tensions and a dangerous plan gradually create an atmosphere of uncertainty around the couple.
What Is Dhurandhar About?
Dhurandhar is directed by Aditya Dhar and stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role. The franchise also features Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan and Sara Arjun, among others.
The first instalment of Dhurandhar arrived in December 2025, while Dhurandhar: The Revenge followed in March 2026.
Despite being among the films considered for India’s Oscar submission, the franchise ultimately did not receive enough support from the jury to be selected.
Vivek Vaswani’s comments provide a glimpse into the jury’s reasoning, particularly its emphasis on a film’s representation of Indian culture and its suitability for the Academy Awards.
Gondhal To Represent India At Oscars 2027
With Gondhal now selected, the Santosh Davakhar-directed film will represent India in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
The 99th Oscars are scheduled to take place on March 14, 2027. While Gondhal is now India’s official submission, the film will still have to progress through the Academy’s selection process before the final nominations are announced.
FAQs
1. How many votes did Dhurandhar receive from the Oscar jury?
Dhurandhar received four votes from the 14-member Film Federation of India jury, according to jury member Vivek Vaswani.
2. Why was Dhurandhar not selected as India’s Oscar entry?
Vivek Vaswani said that although some jury members liked Dhurandhar, they did not consider it “Oscar material.” He also said the jury was looking for a film that represented Indian culture in a particular way.
3. Which film was selected as India’s Oscar entry for 2027?
Marathi film Gondhal, written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, was selected as India’s official submission for the 99th Academy Awards.
4. How many films were considered for India’s Oscar entry?
A total of 33 films were submitted for consideration by the Film Federation of India jury.
5. Who directed Gondhal?
Gondhal is written and directed by Santosh Davakhar.
