Meet the main cast of India's Oscar hopeful 'Laapataa Ladies'
Kiran Rao's directorial Laapataa Ladies has officially secured its place in the Oscars 2025 race for India in the Best Foreign Film category. Released in March, the film tells the tale of two brides who find themselves lost on the same train, setting off a chain of humorous and touching encounters. Its narrative is expertly woven with a simplicity that belies its depth. Here, meet the three main cast members who elevated the film to new heights.
Nitanshi Goel shone as Phool Kumari
Nitanshi Goel—who plays a young bride, Phool Kumari—has been lauded for her performance. Goel started her career as a model after winning the Miss Pantaloons Junior Fashion Icon 2015. She has since appeared in several TV commercials. As a child actor, she has been featured in TV shows including Ishqbaaaz, Daayan, and Peshwa Bajirao among others. She made her Bollywood debut with Ayushmann Khurrana's Vicky Donor and has also appeared in films like M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and Hurdang.
Sparsh Shrivastav impressed as Deepak Kumar
Sparsh Shrivastav, who portrays the character of Deepak Kumar in Laapataa Ladies, has also received acclaim for his performance. Shrivastav first appeared on the dance reality show Chak Dhoom Dhoom and was later seen in Balika Vadhu as Kundan, Nimboli's husband. His portrayal of Deepak, whose wife Phool gets swapped with another bride, has been highly praised. After LL, he was seen in the Sara Ali Khan-starrer Ae Watan Mere Watan.
Pratibha Ranta delivered a strong performance as Jaya
Pratibha Ranta, who plays the role of an assertive, ambitious, and intelligent young bride Jaya, has previously appeared in TV shows like Qurbaan Hua and Aadha Ishq. Born in Shimla, Ranta found her character quite relatable to her own life story. When she was selected for LL, she revealed, "I was told that I had to meet Aamir sir and perform in front of him. I struggled a bit because I am a huge fan," she said.
Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan, and others round off the cast
Chhaya Kadam, who plays Manju Maai in Laapataa Ladies, has won audiences over with her witty one-liners. She has previously starred in films like Fandry, Sairat, Jhund, and Gangubai Kathiawadi among others. Ravi Kishan, who portrays a police officer, Shyam Manohar, in the film, said that he felt alive after 33 years as a craftsman after doing LL. Geeta Agrawal Sharma and Satendra Soni also deliver noteworthy performances in the film.
