Netflix’s ‘Anuja’ nominated for Best Live Action Short at the 97th Academy Awards®
Directed by #AdamJGraves, and backed by #MindyKaling, #GuneetMonga, #PriyankaChopraJonas, the short film Anuja will stream on Netflix. ‘Anuja’, the highly anticipated short film directed by Adam J. Graves, secures a prestigious nomination for Best Live Action Short at the 97th Academy Awards®. Following in the footsteps of the Oscar-winning documentary short The Elephant Whisperers, Anuja continues Netflix’s tradition of championing compelling stories from India on the global stage.
This marks the first Academy Award® nomination for director Adam J. Graves and producer Suchitra Mattai, further solidifying Netflix’s commitment to nurturing diverse voices and fresh talent.
Anuja has the backing of a remarkable team of producers: #SuchitraMattai, Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga Kapoor, #KrushanNaik, #AaronKopp, #DevanandaGraves, #MichaelGraves, #KsheetijSaini and #AlexandraBlaney. Priyanka Chopra Jonas and #AnitaBhatia are on board as Executive Producers. Co-Executive Producers include #ArchanaJain, #SusanMacLaury, #AlbieHecht. The film’s authenticity is deeply rooted in collaboration with #MiraNairs Salaam Baalak Trust, a nonprofit empowering street and working children, with lead actor #SajdaPathan, herself a beneficiary, delivering a stellar performance.
Talking about this prestigious moment, Guneet Monga Kapoor said, “Incredibly honoured for this nomination at the 97th Oscars. It is a privilege to share the story of Anuja, representing the work of Salaam Baalak Trust India – the voice of countless youth who bravely face formidable circumstances everyday. Even through unimaginable odds, they show us there is reason to smile. Director Adam J. Graves and Producer Suchitra Mattai have poured all of their hearts into this. This nomination is a testament to how we can cross borders, collaborate, and bring honest stories to life, alongside the support of some of the most powerful global icons like Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Thank you for helping bring Anuja’s message to the global stage. Can’t wait for the world to experience the joy of watching Anuja on Netflix.”
Expressing her excitement on the nomination, Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared, “‘Anuja’ being nominated for an Oscar in the Best Live Action Short Film category is such an incredible moment. This film is a beautiful reminder of the power of storytelling—how it can shine a light on love, family, and resilience in the most authentic way. I’m so proud of Adam J. Graves for his vision and deeply moved by the brilliant performances of Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag, who have poured their hearts into bringing these characters to life. It’s an honor for me to be part of this journey alongside our amazing partners—Suchitra Mattai Studio, Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga Kapoor, and Shine Global. Telling meaningful stories that resonate with audiences is what drives us, and I’m beyond thrilled to see ‘Anuja’ receive this well-deserved recognition.”
Monika Shergill, VP – Content, Netflix India on the nomination, “It is an honor to bring a beautiful, homegrown film like Anuja to audiences around the world. We hope this powerful story of resilience and redemption resonates with hearts everywhere, and brings India another Oscar after The Elephant Whisperers. Congratulations to the incredible team behind this heartening tale of sisterhood—Suchitra Mattai, Adam J. Graves, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Mindy Kaling, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.”
Netflix received the most nominations for an individual studio with the following 18 nominations across 6 titles. including a record-breaking 13 for Emilia Perez, the most-nominated film of 2025.
Anuja prepares to stream soon on Netflix.
By Keerti Kadam