Actor Shahana Goswami, who stars in the UK`s official entry to Oscars 2025 "Santosh", is excited about the film`s chances at the upcoming awards ceremony and hopes all the attention it is receiving globally boosts independent cinema at large. "Santosh" marks the feature directorial debut of British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri. Goswami, known for her work in films such as "Rock On!!", "Firaaq", "Tu Hai Mera Sunday", and "Zwigato", said she has her fingers crossed for "Santosh" but one still has to wait and see. "We`re not going to the Oscars just yet. There is still due process left. But I`m just excited and happy that the film got the kind of a platform that it did, selected for something like this that is getting that opportunity to be viewed by so many people and be in the news. Every good independent film that comes out has to become a stepping stone for the next one.

"Essentially my excitement is for films like `Santosh` being able to garner that value in the film industry and the film world globally, and then give hope for the fact that there are such films that could also have similar trajectories," the actor told PTI in an interview at Film Bazaar, which was held on the sidelines of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here. She is also excited for Kiran Rao`s "Laapataa Ladies", which is India`s official entry in the best international film category at the upcoming Academy Awards. "Santosh", which includes Hindi dialogues, revolves around a newly widowed housewife (Goswami) as she inherits her late husband`s job as a police constable and becomes embroiled in the investigation of a young girl`s murder. It is a film that makes the viewer question themselves after they finish watching it, added Goswami. "I think that`s what really resonates with people. That`s what is hard-hitting. More than the plotline and story, the fact that it`s a reflection on society that makes you just mirror yourself and the role you play in the reality that we are living in," she said. The actor was recently at IFFI to attend the gala premiere of her upcoming movie "Despatch".