2024 · Film
Laapataa Ladies
Kiran Rao's Hindi comedy-drama in which two newlywed brides are accidentally swapped on a crowded overnight train journey to their husbands' homes.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Laapataa Ladies is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
The story
In 2001, in the fictional state of Nirmal Pradesh, a young farmer named Deepak is taking his new bride Phool home on an overnight train crowded with other newlywed couples. All the brides wear identical red outfits, their faces hidden under veils. When Deepak wakes up in the dark to find the train at his station, he hurries off with the wrong bride. Phool is left stranded at a distant railway station, while the woman who has arrived at Deepak's home will not say who she is, and a local police inspector starts asking questions.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Worth a look for viewers who like gentle comedy with social commentary on arranged marriage and women's independence, at a compact two-hour runtime. Touches on domestic abuse.
funnythought-provokingfeel-good
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
The film is based on "Two Brides", a story by Biplab Goswami, with screenplay and dialogue by Sneha Desai. Kiran Rao produced it with Aamir Khan and Jyoti Deshpande through Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures and Jio Studios. Set in 2001 in the fictional state of Nirmal Pradesh, it was shot in villages in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district. Internationally it is titled Lost Ladies.
It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2023, opened in Indian cinemas on 1 March 2024 and began streaming on Netflix on 26 April 2024. It was India's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, though it was not nominated. At the 70th Filmfare Awards it received a record 24 nominations and won 13, including Best Film and Best Director.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Comedy-drama, Social satire
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Certificate
- U/A
- Director
- Kiran Rao
- Cast
- Sparsh Shrivastava, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Laapataa Ladies in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Laapataa Ladies is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
- Is Laapataa Ladies in Hindi?
- Yes. Laapataa Ladies is a Hindi-language film.
- Is Laapataa Ladies suitable for children?
- Laapataa Ladies has a CBFC U/A certificate, which means children under 12 should watch with a parent or guardian.
- How long is Laapataa Ladies?
- Laapataa Ladies runs for 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).