Rahul Deshpande on Me Vasantrao on making it to the Oscars’ longlist: It’s a rare occasion

After the National Award in 2022, the Marathi film Me Vasantrao has made a crowning stroke by making it to the Oscars’ long list. On Tuesday, the movie was mentioned in The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ long list wherein 301 feature films were listed as eligible for the Oscars.

Singer-actor Rahul Deshpande who played the titular character is elated with the news. “You know it feels really good because, firstly, this is not just a film for me, it’s a tribute to my grandfather. I don’t know any other actor or singer (in current times) who has played his grandfather or sung his songs. I’m so thankful that Oscar has taken note and found this eligible,” Deshpande shares.

Although Me Vasantrao (2022) has made it to the list, it does not guarantee that the film will advance to the final nominations of the Awards, which will be announced on January 24. Ask Deshpande about what’s his modus operandi next and he says, “I do not know, because I don’t know the procedure. I just got to know a little while ago that we’ve been found eligible for this. To be very honest, I don’t know what the next steps are. So, I’m trying to find it out on my own, how we should take it ahead and whether we should show it to any people or the jury members, I don’t know what the process is.”

Nonetheless, the actor-singer is relishing the coup. “It’s a big deal for Marathi cinema. A long time ago Shwaas was sent as the official entry by our government. After that, I have not heard of any Marathi film that is eligible for an Oscar. So I think it’s a rare occasion and I’m very glad that it’s being noted on the global level,” Deshpande gushes.

While he did receive rave reviews from critics and the masses for his acting chops, the 43-year-old based in Pune is not much aspirational about his acting career. “I did this because I was very passionate about this and I really wanted my grandfather’s story to come out who was a singer and a family man. Having said that this is not my profession, I’m a classical vocalist, that is what I do and that is what I intend to do. But in the meanwhile, if something interesting comes my way I will not look the other way. I love to act and it’s not as if I do not like the medium. But it’s not high on my priority list. Singing will always be first,” he concludes.