When the Kiran Rao directorial Laapataa Ladies premiered on Netflix last March, it captivated cinephiles and social media with its heart-warming story subtly injected with social commentary on feminism. The film sparked Oscar buzz and was chosen as India’s selection for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign film, although it could not secure a nomination.
The film marked the debut of young actress Nitanshi Goel, who was 16 years old when the film came out. Goel, who recently won the IIFA Award for Best Actress, hold her portrayal of Phool close to her heart and continues to cherish the film’s ongoing success. In a recent interview with the Hindustan Times, she said, “The fact that people still talk about it and my character Phool, it's so special because it's the kind of film that stays with you. It’s been a year, but it still feels that it was just yesterday that we were doing promotions, and someone recognised me as Phool on the streets. It has just been about looking at things with gratitude and celebrating the love that the film continues to receive.”
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“I feel lucky to have discovered my passion so early and to be able to do what I love every single day. When you grow up in the industry, it comes with its own set of challenges, but the camera has seen me grow up and evolve, and it sounds and feels very fitting for me,” Goel continued.
When asked about the honour of being placed in the UK Top 50 Asian Celebrities list alongside Diljit Dosanjh, Allu Arjun, Dev Patel, Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan, and Alia Bhatt, Goel responded, “It’s an unusual feeling just seeing my name alongside such icons. It is so humbling and motivating at the same time. I have always strived to do work that reaches people beyond borders, and this just makes me want to push myself even more.”
