Actor Shahana Goswami is riding high on excitement and pride, as her latest film Santosh, has been selected as the UK’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars under the Best International Feature Film category. Directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, the film premiered at Cannes 2024 earlier this year.

In an exclusive conversation, Goswami, who plays the titular character, shares her elation: “I am really surprised. It was a very special project, and we (the team) worked incredibly hard on it. To have the film premiere at Cannes and now to be chosen as the UK’s submission for the Oscars feels like a reward for all our effort. I’m especially proud of Sandhya (Suri), who conceptualised and directed the film.”

Reflecting on the challenges of the film, the 38-year-old adds, “I didn’t approach the project with fear or doubt, but it was a tough, relentless shoot. We filmed for two months during the summer, enduring both extreme heat and heavy rainfall. Despite this, the team’s energy was infectious.”

However, Goswami admits that one concern lingered in her mind throughout. “There’s always the question of whether a film like this will release in India,” she explains.

“In India, cinema is often seen as a business or a commodity, whereas in Europe, it’s treated more as an art form, with government support playing a significant role. So, for a film like this, which may not immediately attract mass appeal, international recognition helps,” she ends.