Priyanka Chopra Shines at the Oscars: A Night of Mixed Emotions for India

A Star-Studded Night with Priyanka Chopra

Los Angeles: The Oscars provided a brief yet dazzling moment for India as Priyanka Chopra Jonas took the stage to present the award for Best International Feature Film, sharing the spotlight with Javier Bardem, who made headlines with his poignant message, "No to war, free Palestine."

However, fans hoping for a more significant Indian presence at the 98th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre were left disappointed. The beloved Hindi film star Dharmendra was notably missing from the In Memoriam segment, and Indian American filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir did not secure a win despite two nominations. Her documentary short, "The Devil Is Busy," and the feature documentary, "The Perfect Neighbor," both failed to take home awards.

Isha Ambani, daughter of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, attended the prestigious event with her husband Anand Piramal. She dazzled in a vintage strapless gown from Valentino's Fall 2006 couture collection, adorned with floral embroidery in soft pastel hues, while Piramal opted for a stylish Dolce and Gabbana suit.

For Chopra Jonas, this marked a return to the Oscars after a decade. Clad in a stunning white feathered gown by Dior, the 43-year-old actress remarked that global narratives remind us that international stories resonate far beyond their origins.

Her moment on stage with Bardem, who opened with the impactful phrase, "No to war, free Palestine," while wearing a patch that echoed the same anti-war sentiment he had displayed during the Iraq War protests in 2003, ensured her presence was widely shared across social media.

The award for Best International Feature Film ultimately went to "Sentimental Value," directed by Norway's Joachim Trier.

Dharmendra, who passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89, was not the only notable absence from the In Memoriam segment, which, despite being extended by 15 minutes this year, did not include him. The segment paid tribute to Hollywood icons like Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton, and Robert Redford, while also omitting Brigitte Bardot, James Van Der Beek, and Eric Dane.

Nevertheless, Dharmendra was acknowledged in the official online list by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), alongside other Indian film figures such as Saroja Devi, Manoj Kumar, Jayasree Kabir, Kota Srinivasa Rao, and documentary filmmaker S Krishnaswamy.

Historically, the Oscars have recognized Indian film personalities in their In Memoriam segments, with Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi honored in 2018, and Irrfan Khan and costume designer Bhanu Athaiya, the first Indian Oscar winner, remembered in 2021.

Gandbhir's documentary, "The Devil Is Busy," follows a day in the life of a security head at a women's healthcare clinic in Atlanta amid increasing abortion restrictions. The award in this category went to "All the Empty Rooms."

Her other film, "The Perfect Neighbor," is a Netflix documentary that recounts the tragic shooting of Black woman Ajike Owens by her white neighbor Susan Louise Lorincz in Ocala, Florida. The Best Documentary Feature award was claimed by "Mr Nobody Against Putin."