Indian film 'The Lunchbox' nominated for BAFTA (Roundup)
Jan 09,2015
New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) After having been snubbed as India's official entry at the Oscars in 2013, Ritesh Batra's directorial feature movie "The Lunchbox" has made it to the nomination list of the BAFTA Awards 2015 in the 'Film Not in the English Language' category. The team is ecstatic.
The nominations for the awards, organised annually by British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), were announced in London Friday.
"The Lunchbox", starring Nimrat Kaur and Irrfan Khan, is competing with Polish-Danish drama film "Ida", Russian drama "Leviathan", Brazilian-British adventure drama thriller film "Trash", and Belgian drama "Two Days, One Night", according to the official BAFTA website.
The movie is a unique love story between a lovelorn wife and a lonely man. While it released in India in 2013, it hit the British screens only in 2014, making it eligible for the nominations this time.
Batra considers it "an incredible honour".
"I'm in London right now... we are honoured to be nominated alongside the finest films of the year. It's a great way to start the New Year," Batra told IANS over phone.
The film's lead actress Nimrat took to Twitter, and gushed: "A BAFTA Nomination for #TheLunchbox!! Big love and congrats to the whole team." Co-producer Guneet Monga of Sikhya Entertainment shared: "Soo awesome! The Lunchbox nominated for BAFTA!!! Thank you @riteshbatra for creating soo much magic... love."
Congratulatory messages for the cast and crew also came in from industry members like Sujoy Ghosh, Hansal Mehta and Nikhil Advani.
The nomination turns out to be extra special for the team, especially as the Film Federation of India (FFI) had, in 2013, chosen Gujarati film "The Good Road" over "The Lunchbox" as India's entry for the best foreign film at the Academy Awards despite the buzz around it.
Mehta made a tongue-in-cheek comment, saying: "So obviously the Film Federation of India knows better than #BAFTA. Congratulations @riteshbatra, @NimratOfficial, @irrfan_k and @guneetm."
However, with the latest news surrounding a chance at the BAFTA, the team is rejoicing.
Jointly produced by multiple studios like DAR Motion Pictures, UTV Motion Pictures, Dharma Productions, Sikhya Entertainment, National Film Development Corporation (India), ROH Films (Germany), ASAP Films (France), and the Cine Mosaic (US), "The Lunchbox" has done its round of international film festivals, including those in Cannes, Zurich, London and Toronto.
With names like Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar, Guneet Monga and Danis Tanovic backing it, it went on to become one of the highest grossing foreign films at the US box office.
The story revolves around Ila, a young middle class Mumbai housewife, essayed by Nimrat, trying to win back her husband's affections through his stomach and how a rare misplaced delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient 'dabbawala' system of lunchboxes, from homes to offices, connects her to an old widower, played by Irrfan, through notes in the lunch box.
Top Stories
Mushtaq Khan Death: Rajpal Yadav Reveals What Happened During Their Final Meeting
Sep 25,2026
Recently, news emerged from Bollywood that left fans heartbroken. Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan—famous for delivering the iconic dialogue "Meri ek taang nakli hai, main hockey ka bahut bada khiladi tha..." (I have a prosthetic leg; I used to be a great hockey player...) in the Nana Pa
'Udta Teer' Trailer Out: Ayushmann Khurrana’s quirky spy comedy with Sara Ali Khan features an India-Pakistan twist.
Sep 23,2026
The trailer of Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan's upcoming spy comedy Udta Teer is out. Ayushmann plays Bilal, a Pakistani spy who lands in India on a covert mission but loses his memory after an accident, leading to a bizarre case of mistaken identity.There has been considerable buzz
Govinda-Rani Swarnkar Relationship: Actor Visits Lalbaugcha Raja Without Sunita, Here’s What He Has Said
Sep 23,2026
Govinda and Komal Rani Swarnkar were spotted together at Mumbai's iconic Lalbaugcha Raja on Tuesday night, September 22, where the actor sought blessings and participated in the final aarti. Their appearance comes amid ongoing speculation about Govinda's equation with his Roopa co-star a
Parineeti Chopra Reacts to Katrina Kaif’s Weight Trolling: “Why View It Negatively?”
Sep 22,2026
Parineeti Chopra has come out in support of Katrina Kaif after the actress faced online trolling over her appearance following the birth of her son. Calling the criticism “uneducated and bizarre,” Parineeti questioned why physical changes experienced by women after childbirth a
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Sanjay Dutt, Ananya Panday, Sunny Leone Seek Blessings at Lalbaugcha Raja
Sep 22,2026
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai have once again brought Bollywood celebrities to the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja pandal. Several stars have visited the revered Ganpati idol during the ongoing festivities to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.Among the celebrities assoc
Salman Khan Viral Video: Bhaijaan Stops After Child Is Pushed, Scolds Driver Over Fan’s Foot
Sep 18,2026
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s appearances during Mumbai’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations have once again attracted significant attention online. From visiting the Ambani family’s residence and celebrating with his family to seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessing
King vs. Avengers: Doomsday – Shah Rukh Khan says "The father will come first," anticipating a Christmas box office clash.
Sep 15,2026
Shah Rukh Khan has once again shown why he is known as Bollywood’s ‘King Khan’. During his latest #AskSRK session on X, the superstar gave a witty response when a fan asked him about the much-discussed box-office clash between his upcoming film King and Marvel Studios&rsq
Salman Khan’s Ganesh Chaturthi Look Goes Viral: Tilak and Angavastram Steal the Show
Sep 15,2026
Salman Khan's appearance at the Ambani family's Ganesh Chaturthi celebration has become a talking point on social media. A video showing the Bollywood superstar offering prayers to Lord Ganpati at Antilia has gone viral, with fans praising his traditional festive appearance and the momen
Entertainment News
King vs. Avengers: Doomsday
Sep 15,2026
Salman Khan’s Ganesh Chaturt
Sep 15,2026
Shatrughan Sinha on Sonakshi S
Aug 18,2026
Emraan Hashmi’s Iconic Heart
Aug 18,2026
Batwara 1947 Review: Sunny Deo
Aug 14,2026