Aamir Khan hosts Laapataa Ladies Oscars kickoff dinner at Vikas Khanna’s NYC restaurant

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao recently kicked off the Oscars campaign for their film Laapataa Ladies with an intimate dinner event at The Bungalow, Chef Vikas Khanna’s popular Indian restaurant in New York City. The event marked the beginning of Laapataa Ladies’ journey for the 2025 Oscars, where the film has been submitted as India’s official entry in the Best International Feature category.

Khan, joined by director Kiran Rao, spent time interacting with the restaurant’s staff and sampling classic Indian dishes. In one video shared by restaurant co-owner Jimmy Rizvi and The Bungalow’s official Instagram account, Aamir can be seen chatting with Mysha, a young chef who had prepared several of the dishes for the night. Chef Vikas Khanna praised her dedication, noting she had taken extra time out from school to prepare for the occasion. The evening even included a lighthearted moment with Aamir enjoying a classic Indian street food, golgappas, or pani puri, prepared by the kitchen staff.

Laapataa Ladies, or Lost Ladies as it’s being promoted in the U.S., centers around the social issue of missing brides in a fictional Indian state. Produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures, and Jio Studios, the film has received critical acclaim. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 and won the Critics’ Choice Best Film award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Laapataa Ladies highlights issues rooted in Indian society, featuring fresh talent including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastav in lead roles, alongside well-known names like Ravi Kishan and Chhaya Kadam.

As Khan and Rao work to promote the film internationally, the dinner event in New York served as a chance to connect with fans and the Indian diaspora, building anticipation for the Oscars campaign. A photograph shared on social media shows Aamir and Kiran posing with Vikas Khanna, capturing the festive spirit of the event. Both Khan and Rao expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and shared the excitement of presenting their film to a global audience.

The campaign for Laapataa Ladies will continue in the coming weeks as the Oscars season unfolds. With the support of an international audience and the advocacy of its creators, the film aims to make an impactful journey towards Academy recognition, celebrating Indian cinema on the global stage.