Gully Boy Is India’s official Entry To The Oscars, Alia Bhatt,Zoya Akhtar, Siddhanth Chaturvedi Respond

Gully  Boy, the  Zoya Akhtar-directed   film about  street rappers in Mumbai , has been selected as  India’s official entry to the Oscars. 

And Alia Bhatt who will soon be celebrating her  boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor’s  birthday  on September  28, has one more reason to  celebrate.

In an exclusive chat she  told this  writer, “This is such a big first for me.My first film to go to the Oscars,  It’s a  big deal  for me. And such an exciting moment for team Gully Boy.I can’t  tell you my  feelings right now.  For now there’s just hope that we make it to five  final nominations for  best foreign film at  the Oscars. But being sent as India’s official  entry to the Oscars in itself is a big big deal for me.”

Aparna Sen, the  chairperson   of the Oscars  committee, was  apparently  impressed with the film’s originality  , vivacity and  motivational  mood.

Gully Boy Director Zoya Akhtar couldn’t contain  her excitement as  she  told  this writer,  “This has been a great year for me and I am so overwhelmed with the response our work is getting. I am thrilled and very grateful that Gully Boy has been picked as India’s official entry for the Oscars. It’s crazy to receive such news days after my  web film Lust Stories received a nomination for the Emmys.”

Adds Zoya’s stepmother Shabana Azmi, “I am thrilled and so so proud . I loved the film and am rooting for it with all my heart. I find it amazing that both Zoya with Gully Boy and Farhan with Dil Chahta Hai made pathbreaking Hindi films , just like their father(scriptwriter Javed Akhtar) had done 40 years ago with Zanjeer and Deewaar! How rare is that, three  pathbreaking  writers/filmmakers in one family .”

Siddhant Chaturvedi who rose  to fame in Gully Boy  as MC Sher  , Ranveer Singh’s  rapper-mentor , is  above the  moon. “I am  super-excited.My first web show Inside Edge got nominated for the Emmys last year and now my first film going to the Oscars!! It’s a very special moment!It’s all about Zoya Maam(Akhtar) ’s genius, Ranveer Singh’s uplifting bromance , producers RiteshSidhwani’s and Farhan Akhtar’s sir’s mentorship! And  the  credit goes  to the  the whole crew.”