Actress Sunita Rajwar is living a dream. Having become a household name thanks to the immensely popular Gullak web series, Sunita's happiness knew no bounds when, last Thursday, United Kingdom chose Hindi film Santosh as its official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards 2025.
Sunita stars alongside Shahana Goswami in the film, directed by British-Indian director and documentarian Sandhya Suri.
“Besides the fact that the film is exceptional, I have a good and interesting role in it,” she told HTCity in an interview. “And it feels great that along with Sandhya and the main lead, Shahana, my name is also being mentioned.”
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Sunita, who has been in the industry for more than two decades, called the experience surreal. Along with Gullak, Sunita starred in films such as Urf Ghanta, Aanchhi, and more recently, a supporting role in Stree 2.
Sunita says she is happy to break away from stereotype.
“I have said no to so many projects of late because everyone has been approaching me to play a character similar to Bittu ki mummy (her character in Gullak). Amidst all this, to get such a great news is amazing.”
When asked if she was concerned about the release of the film in India, she said that people often admire how Hollywood and Iranian films feel so real and how they are made, but when it comes to their own films, they are much more critical.
“The film is too real. A lot of films face problems ahead of their release in India. At times, even the audience takes time to accept certain kind of films. I would like Santosh to get a release in India so that people watch a good film and see all our hard work,” she said.
The film had its world premiere at Cannes 2024, in the Un Certain Regard section, which translates to “a certain look”, primarily aimed at films that offer a different perspective to the audience.
The thriller drama is about a Hindu widow who inherits her husband’s job as a police constable in a rural town in north India. She is asked to probe the rape and murder of a low-caste girl while being caught up in institutional corruption.
The film also stars Kushal Dubey and Sanjay Bishnoi.
The final nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on January 17, 2025.