# Why Ranveer Singh Starrer Dhurandhar Missed The Academy Awards Cut Explained By Juror Vivek Vaswani

> Ranveer Singh's box office hit Dhurandhar secured only 4 votes from the 14-member Film Federation of India panel, losing India's official submission spot to Marathi thriller Gondhal.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Bollywood · **Published:** 2026-09-19 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/bollywood/akadami-puraskaron-ke-lie-kyon-nahin-chuni-gai-ranveer-singh-ki-dhurandhar-juri-ke-vivek-vaswani-ne-kiya-khulasa-33803 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Dhurandhar, Ranveer Singh, Gondhal, Oscars 2027, Vivek Vaswani, Santosh Davakhar, Film Federation of India

Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar reached the final stages of the selection race to represent India at the 99th Academy Awards. Despite registering strong commercial numbers at the ticket windows, the high-profile Hindi release failed to make the final cut. Following exhaustive deliberations, the Film Federation of India selection committee selected the Marathi thriller Gondhal as the country's official submission for the 2027 Oscars.

## Behind The Jury Vote And The Cultural Evaluation
Jury member Vivek Vaswani provided detailed insight into the internal evaluation that determined the outcome. When addressing the standing of Dhurandhar during the final stage, Vivek Vaswani explained that while select members appreciated the project, the panel collectively felt it did not match the caliber required for an Oscar contender.

He pointed out that the 14-member committee wanted an entry that authentically showcased Indian cultural heritage, a dimension where Dhurandhar did not measure up to expectations for an official national submission. When the selection committee cast their ballots, Dhurandhar managed to secure support from just four members, ending its run in the competition.

## Selection Field of 33 Films Narrowed Down To Top Three
A comprehensive pool of 33 films across diverse regional industries entered the race to become the national entry. The competing roster featured 14 Hindi titles, four Marathi, four Telugu, three Gujarati, three Tamil, one Malayalam, one Nepali, and one entry from Nagaland.

Following detailed evaluations of the submissions, the panel narrowed the field down to a shortlist of three projects. The trio that competed in the decisive stage comprised Gondhal, Ang, and Main Wapas Aaunga. After reviewing all three finalists, the jury finalized Gondhal to represent the nation at the prestigious 2027 Academy Awards.

## Gondhal Stands Out With Folk Ritual Heritage
Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is structured as a narrative thriller rooted in Maharashtra's traditional ritual and folk performance art, from which the film derives its name. The authentic cultural grounding and distinct local setting heavily swayed the decision of the evaluators.

Gondhal has already built momentum across the global festival circuit, having been screened at several international film festivals. Director Santosh Davakhar also received widespread acclaim when he took home the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2025.

## What this means for you
This selection underscores that cultural authenticity and grounded storytelling take precedence over commercial box office numbers for international award submissions.

- **For Moviegoers:** Viewer interest is likely to pivot toward regional independent cinema and culturally rooted narratives over conventional big-budget spectacles. Audiences will find greater exposure to regional gems that highlight traditional folklore rather than standard commercial blockbusters.
- **For Filmmakers:** Creators planning campaigns for global platforms must focus on cultural relevance and depth rather than relying on star power alone. Large box office receipts and prominent celebrity casting do not automatically ensure validation from national selection committees.
- **For Regional Cinema:** Creative talents and regional industries across languages gain substantial visibility and validation on the global stage. This official endorsement provides indie directors and regional storytellers improved access to international film markets and festival circuits.
- **For Award Campaigners:** The transparent rationale shared by the selection panel provides a clear blueprint for crafting future international campaign strategies. Production houses can now align their narrative focus with the specific artistic benchmarks preferred by official evaluation juries.

## Why this happened
The 14-member Film Federation of India panel chose the Marathi thriller Gondhal over Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar as India's official Oscar submission due to thematic, voting, and cultural considerations.

- **Absence of Cultural Grounding:** The selection panel concluded that Dhurandhar did not portray Indian culture and heritage with the depth expected of an official national submission. Evaluators prioritized narratives that provide genuine cultural immersion for global platforms.
- **Insufficient Committee Votes:** During the decisive round of voting, Dhurandhar secured support from only four members of the 14-member jury. A broad majority of the panel determined that strong box office performance alone was insufficient to qualify as an Oscar-worthy contender.
- **Strength of Indigenous Folklore:** The chosen film Gondhal draws its core identity from the traditional rituals and folk performance arts of Maharashtra. Its distinct thematic focus and authentic storytelling strongly resonated with the evaluation committee.
- **Established Festival Pedigree:** Gondhal had already garnered international attention across film festivals, supported by director Santosh Davakhar winning the Silver Peacock Award at the 56th IFFI in 2025. This proven critical standing gave it a decisive edge during the final deliberations.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which film was selected as India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards?
The Marathi thriller Gondhal was chosen to represent India at the 2027 Oscars.

### 2. Why was Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar eliminated from the Oscar race?
The jury felt Dhurandhar lacked the necessary cultural representation for an official entry, securing only 4 votes from the 14-member panel.

### 3. Which movies made it to the final shortlist of top three contenders?
The final three contenders evaluated by the selection committee were Gondhal, Ang, and Main Wapas Aaunga.

### 4. How many total films were reviewed during this selection process?
A total of 33 films across multiple languages were considered, including 14 Hindi entries.

### 5. Who directed the selected movie Gondhal?
Gondhal was written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, who previously won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the 56th IFFI.

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