Confusion around India’s official submission to the Oscars started on Tuesday morning, when the makers of Swantantrya Veer Savarkar announced that their film had been “officially submitted” to the Oscars, thanking the FFI for “this remarkable appreciation.” This came a day after the FFI (Film Federation Of India) announced Laapataa Ladies as this year’s submission.

When HT City reached out to FFI president Ravi Kottakara, he laughed at the claim, saying, “They (the makers) have given some wrong communication... Only Laapataa Ladies has been sent for Oscars from India officially.”

The announcement was a collab Instagram post by co-producer Sandeep Singh, and the film’s production houses and actor Ankita Lokhande. However, director and lead actor Randeep Hooda did not share any updates on his social media. A source close to the situation told us, “This is very shady. Even a quote attributed to Randeep was given out in press releases when he has not given a quote.”

We tried to reach out to Hooda, but he was unavailable for comment. There was no response from Singh and Lokhande either.

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I didn’t know when the film was submitted; I was told about it on Monday. Going to the Oscars is a big milestone. I am, of course, very happy.

- ANAND PANDIT, CO-PRODUCER OF THE FILM