Ranveer Singh’s blockbuster franchise Dhurandhar and its sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge failed to become India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards. The Film Federation of India selected the Marathi thriller Gondhal instead. Now, jury member Vivek Vaswani has revealed the exact reason behind the decision, including a voting breakdown that shows how far behind the Ranveer Singh starrer actually was.
Only Four Votes for Dhurandhar Out of Fourteen
Vivek Vaswani spoke to NDTV after the selection announcement and shared the numbers behind the jury’s decision. When asked how many of the 14 jury members voted in favour of Dhurandhar, Vaswani gave a direct answer.
“Four.”
That means 10 out of 14 jurors did not consider the Ranveer Singh film strong enough to represent India at the Oscars. Vaswani also explained that the jury did not view either Dhurandhar or Dhurandhar: The Revenge as Oscar contenders at all. The decision was not based on box office earnings or star power. It came down to whether the film could serve as India’s cultural representative on a global stage.
Cultural Representation Was the Deciding Factor
Vaswani told NDTV that the Dhurandhar films did not represent Indian culture in the way the jury was looking for. The panel wanted a film that could showcase India’s cultural identity to an international audience. According to Vaswani, this was the central consideration during the selection process.
The jury’s role was to choose one film from India for the Best International Feature Film category. This is not about commercial success or popularity. It is about which film best represents the country’s artistic and cultural voice on the Oscar platform.
Gondhal, directed and written by Santosh Davakhar, fit that requirement. The Marathi thriller is set against the backdrop of Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual, a night-long folk performance involving music, dance, and mythology. The film’s cultural richness and authentic portrayal of Indian traditions impressed the jury.
How Gondhal Beat 33 Other Films
Gondhal emerged as the final choice from a competitive field of 33 films. The submissions included 14 Hindi films, four Marathi films, four Telugu films, three Gujarati films, three Tamil films, one Malayalam film, one Nepali film, and one film from Nagaland.
The jury’s final three films were Gondhal, Angh, and Maine Vaapas Aayunga. The Marathi film eventually won the selection. Gondhal stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir, and Anuj Prabhu. Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja created the music for the film, adding another layer of artistic weight to the production.
Gondhal tells the story of a new bride named Suman, played by Ishita Deshmukh, who turns a sacred night-long wedding ritual into a dangerous game of manipulation and survival. The film premiered at the International Film Festival of India in Goa, where Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director in 2025.
The selection gives Marathi cinema its fourth shot at representing India at the Oscars. Previous Marathi entries include Shwaas in 2004, Harishchandrachi Factory in 2009, and Court in 2015.
The Dhurandhar Franchise and Its Record-Breaking Run
Ranveer Singh headlined both Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar. The first film released in December 2025, followed by the sequel in March 2026. Together, the two films earned approximately ₹3,000 crore worldwide, making the franchise the first Indian film series to cross that milestone globally.
The ensemble cast includes Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sara Arjun. The spy thriller franchise became a massive box office phenomenon, surpassing the earnings of franchises like Baahubali and Pushpa. Despite this commercial dominance, the jury’s decision remained focused on cultural representation rather than financial performance.
What the Jury Was Looking For
Vivek Vaswani made it clear that the selection was not about dismissing the quality or popularity of Dhurandhar. The jury simply had a different vision for what India’s official Oscar submission should be. The panel wanted a film that could introduce global audiences to a unique aspect of Indian culture. Gondhal delivered that in a way the Dhurandhar films did not.
The Film Federation of India president Abhay Sinha described Gondhal as a family movie that also works as a thriller and a mixture of everything. Jury member Firdausul Hasan told India Today that Gondhal stood out in every aspect.
“It nicely depicts the Indian culture, the photography and music are extraordinary. It was unanimously decided by the jury that it will represent India at the Academy.”
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Dhurandhar Can Still Go to the Oscars Through Another Route
Missing out on India’s official entry does not mean Dhurandhar is completely out of the Oscar race. Films can enter the Academy Awards through other eligibility routes. The most famous example is SS Rajamouli’s RRR, which was not India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category but went on to win an Oscar for the song Naatu Naatu in 2023.
The Dhurandhar franchise can still apply separately for other categories. The makers can choose to submit the film for technical categories, music, or other awards where it may qualify. The jury’s decision only applies to India’s official entry in the Best International Feature Film category.
The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 2027. The final nominations will be announced by the Academy at a later date. For now, Gondhal carries India’s hopes in the international feature race, while Dhurandhar retains its own path to the Oscars through independent campaigning.
Also Read: Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Dhurandhar’ Post Sparks Debate; Did He Take a Dig at Yash’s ‘Toxic’?
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