Paro (The Untold Story of Bride Slavery), an Indian movie directed by Gajendra Vitthal Ahire, and starring Trupti Bhoir, Taha Shah Badussha, and Govind Namdeo has moved a step ahead in its journey to the 2026 Academy Awards. The movie’s producers include Trupti Bhoir and Sandesh Sharda.
This film has been included in the ‘Reminder List of Productions Eligible for the 98th Academy Awards.
The movie highlights the issue of “bride slavery” prevalent in parts of India. Bhoir, the lead actress plays the role of a woman married to three husbands.
“This film highlights bride slavery and trafficking, issues that are prevalent not just in India but in many countries. Through this movie, we are speaking out boldly about it,” Bhoir told South Asian Herald.
Actor Badussha told South Asian Herald, “The movie delves on a very hard-hitting subject where brides, or young girls, have been kidnapped or abducted and then sold. It happens not only in India, but also in countries such as Vietnam and Pakistan. This is a story of a woman, who gets abducted, gets sold up north in Mewat in Haryana. And it’s about her journey of how she gets sold from one person, getting married and sold repeatedly.”
READ: Reshma Saujani’s Moms First releasing documentary on American motherhood (
The film was shot across a variety of locations across India, including Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Manwa village in Lucknow, Agra in Uttar Pradesh, Chambal Valley in Madhya Pradesh, and Pune in Maharashtra. According to Bhoir, these varied settings in different states offer audiences a rich visual experience, showcasing differences in landscapes, attire, language, and culture. Despite this, the protagonist’s reality of slavery remains unchanged.
“I did not know about the Paro women, until I got on that Zoom call with Trupti who told me about the plight of these women called Paro who were repeatedly sold as bride slaves and had no status in society,” said producer Sandesh Sharda. “It deeply touched my heart. I felt that if I have to use my money for a good cause, I must associate with someone who is genuine, sincere in their effort to create change. And Trupti is a really good human being who thinks with her heart. Making a film was a great idea because it’s a very powerful medium to give an important message. I felt a connection with Trupti and the story of Paro and instantly decided to fund the movie.”
Sharda is an Indian American serial entrepreneur and philanthropist, as well as one of the judges for the startup reality show “Ideabaaz”.
READ: Four Indian filmmakers win $35,000 Tasveer–Netflix grants (
The Reminder List is a list of films that satisfy the eligibility criteria for consideration in the general categories, including Best Picture. It is the step before the nominations that will be announced on January 22.
Inclusion in the reminder list does not guarantee a nomination. Films must still undergo the Academy voting process.
The Film Academy has already revealed the shortlists in 12 categories. “Frankenstein”, “Wicked: For Good”, “Sinners”, “One Battle After Another”, “Sirat” and “F1: The Movie” are notable nominees with multiple nominations.
“Paro” isn’t the only Indian film in the running. While “Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1” and the Hindi film “Tanvi The Great”, are among the films in the reminder list, “Homebound” has been shortlisted for the International Feature Film category.