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India’s official Oscar entry, which failed to make the cut, wins big at major Bollywood awards show

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India’s official Oscar entry, which failed to make the cut, wins big at major Bollywood awards show
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India’s official Oscar entry, which failed to make the cut, wins big at major Bollywood awards show

2025-03-10 13:09 Last Updated At:13:21

JAIPUR, India (AP) — The film that was submitted as India’s official Oscar entry but failed to make the final list of nominees has swept the International Indian Film Academy Awards, which recognize outstanding work in the country's film industry.

Director Kiran Rao’s critically acclaimed “Laapataa Ladies” — renamed “Lost Ladies” for its Oscar campaign — emerged as the biggest winner at the 2025 IIFA Awards, bagging 10 wins, including best picture and best direction.

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Bollywood actor Rekha poses for a photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Rekha poses for a photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Indian Bollywood actor and film producer Shah Rukh Khan arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Indian Bollywood actor and film producer Shah Rukh Khan arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit poses for photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit poses for photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif poses for a photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif poses for a photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood personalities Karan Johar, left, and Kareena Kapoor Khan share a lighter moment as actor Shahid Kapoor, right, looks on, on the first day of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Jaipur, India, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood personalities Karan Johar, left, and Kareena Kapoor Khan share a lighter moment as actor Shahid Kapoor, right, looks on, on the first day of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Jaipur, India, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

The 2023 comedy is about two veiled brides who are accidentally swapped during a train ride, and tackles issues of patriarchy and gender roles, a shift from decades of male-centered mainstream Indian movies.

“It’s a rare privilege to win an award for a film like ‘Laapataa Ladies.' It’s been a wonderful night. It’s a rare privilege to make a film like this,” Rao said in her acceptance speech.

Rao's film — a rare departure from most Bollywood films, which typically feature song-and-dance routines, violence and melodrama — also won in categories for best story, best screenplay and best actress in a leading role.

The annual ceremony of IIFA began in the western city of Jaipur on Saturday and concluded Sunday.

Indian cinema’s most recognizable names took part in the glitzy event and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and actor Shahid Kapoor were among those who performed at the ceremony. The event was hosted by veteran director and producer Karan Johar and actor Kartik Aaryan.

The awards show also presents an opportunity for Indian celebrities to showcase their fashion, and this year was no exception. Notable figures such as Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor Khan displayed their fashion choices on the green carpet.

Bollywood actor Rekha poses for a photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Rekha poses for a photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Indian Bollywood actor and film producer Shah Rukh Khan arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Indian Bollywood actor and film producer Shah Rukh Khan arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit poses for photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit poses for photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif poses for a photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif poses for a photograph as she arrives for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Jaipur, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood personalities Karan Johar, left, and Kareena Kapoor Khan share a lighter moment as actor Shahid Kapoor, right, looks on, on the first day of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Jaipur, India, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

Bollywood personalities Karan Johar, left, and Kareena Kapoor Khan share a lighter moment as actor Shahid Kapoor, right, looks on, on the first day of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Jaipur, India, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations on Thursday forecast slower global economic growth this year and next, pointing to the impact of the surge in U.S. tariffs and increasing trade tensions.

U.N. economists also cited the volatile geopolitical landscape and threats of rising production costs, supply chain disruptions and financial turbulence.

“These days, there’s so much uncertainty in the air,” said Shantanu Mukherjee, director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division at the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

“It’s been a nervous time for the global economy,” he told reporters while launching the midyear forecast. “In January this year, we were expecting two years of stable — if subpar — growth, and since then, prospects have diminished, accompanied by significant volatility across various dimensions.”

The U.N. is now forecasting global economic growth of 2.4% this year and 2.5% next year — a drop of 0.4 percentage point each year from its projections in January. Last year, the global economy grew 2.9%.

Mukherjee said the slowing is affecting most countries and regions, but among the most severely hit are the poorest and least developed countries, whose growth prospects have fallen from 4.6% to 4.1% just since January.

“That translates into a loss of billions in economic output for the most disadvantaged of countries,” which are home to over half the global population living in extreme poverty, he said.

The world’s developed and developing countries also are projected to suffer, according to the U.N. report.

Economic growth in the United States is now projected to drop significantly, from 2.8% last year to 1.6% this year, it said, noting that higher tariffs and policy uncertainty are expected to weigh on private investment and consumption.

China’s growth is expected to slow to 4.6% this year from 5% in 2024 as a result of subdued consumer sentiment, disruptions in its export-oriented manufacturing companies, and continuing challenges in its property sector, the report said.

The European Union’s growth is forecast to remain the same this year as it was last year — just 1%, the report said, citing weaker net exports and higher trade barriers. The United Kingdom’s economic growth of 1.1% last year is projected to fall to 0.9%.

Weakening trade, slowing investments and falling commodity prices are also forecast to erode growth in other major developing economies, including Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.

India will remain one of the world’s fastest-growing large economies, but the U.N. forecast said its growth is expected to drop from 7.1% in 2024 to 6.3% this year.

The U.N.’s global economic growth forecast is lower than the International Monetary Fund’s.

On a more positive note, Mukherjee said the U.N. is expecting that bilateral negotiations will lead to lower tariffs, although he said they won’t return to the levels before U.S. President Donald Trump’s February announcement.

Nonetheless, Mukherjee said, resolving uncertainties would help individuals and businesses move forward with economic decisions and that would have a positive impact on the global economy.

FILE - The United Nations flag flies on a stormy day at the U.N. during the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

FILE - The United Nations flag flies on a stormy day at the U.N. during the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

Container cranes sit idle at the port of the port of New York & New Jersey in Bayonne, N.J., Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Container cranes sit idle at the port of the port of New York & New Jersey in Bayonne, N.J., Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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