9 year old Sajda Pathan has earned a nomination at the 2025 Oscars

 

Anuja, a film produced by Priyanka Chopra and Guneet Monga, has earned a nomination at the 2025 Oscars. It features 9-year-old Sajda Pathan as the main character.

There was some surrounds for hope for India on Thursday, even if Anuja was not awarded an Oscar as a nominee; neither was Santosh, a film by Sandhya Suri which was Britain’s official submission to the Academy Awards. Nevertheless, Anuja, a short live-action film set in Delhi, was nominated for the Best Live Action Short Film. As the fighting for the Oscars become even more intense, it became clear that many people’s attention was placed on the 9 year old cornerstoning the movie. And Anuja, which debuted with great buzz, was supported by well known personalities like Priyanka Chopra Molina, Mindy Kaling, and Guneet Monga.

Anuja tells the story of a 9 year old girl with extraordinary talents. She is caught in a dilemma where she has to choose between formal education or a job in a factory alongside her sibling – a choice that would decide their fates. The film, which takes place in New Delhi, features Sajda Pathan in the lead position and Ananya Shanbhag as her sister. The project is another collaboration between Guneet Moga, Priyanka Chopra, who serves as executive producers, and circus performer turned producer Mindy Kaling.