A year ago, Vidhu Vinod Chopra had to submit his hit emotional drama 12th Fail independently for the 2024 Oscars as India chose Malayalam survival thriller 2018 as its official entry for the best international film category at the Academy Awards.

Today, during a masterclass at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Chopra claimed that many artistes, including those working in Hollywood, preferred his directorial venture over filmmaker Jude Anthany Joseph's film as India's Oscar entry.