Long way to go, says ‘Barfi!’ team

Congratulations have been pouring in for the ‘Barfi!’ team when it was announced that the film had been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars. However, an elated actor Ranbir Kapoor and director Anurag Basu feel it is still early days to celebrate.

It’s just been two weeks since its release but the film yesterday beat 19 other movies to be named India's entry in the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category at the Oscars in February next year. "We all are very happy... It is a team effort but we should not be that excited as the film has just got an entry from India, we are yet to be selected for the main entry," said Ranbir, who has played the role of a hearing and speech impaired boy in the film in a love story set in the fairytale world of 1970s Darjeeling.

The 85th Academy Awards will take place on February 24, 2013. The nominations will be announced on January 10. Anurag tweeted, "Thank you much! Lekin abhi delhi door hai (We have a long way to go)!! Pray for us!” “The Oscar nomination is icing on the cake," he told a news agency.

Only three films - Mehboob Khan's 'Mother India', Mira Nair's 'Salam Bombay!' and Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan' - from India have managed to get to the final round of Oscar nominations so far.

Ranbir, 29, said that they would seek advice from Aamir in case they make it to the final round. "If the film gets a go ahead, we would take advice from Aamir (Khan) about how to go ahead," he said.

The film also stars Priyanka Chopra - playing an autistic girl - and marked the Bollywood debut of southern actress Ileana D'Cruz. 'Barfi!' registered Rs 58.6 crores in its opening week at the box office.

Priyanka, who is currently out of the country, called the film a "labour of love", saying, "Yay! Congratulations team ‘Barfi!’ This is such amazing news. This film was a labour of love for all of us and to see it receive such amazing success is so gratifying.

"This has been the toughest character of my life and to see everyone loving Jhilmil is such a dream come true. I am thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful team who made this happen," Priyanka reportedly said from Los Angeles.

The 85th Academy Awards will take place on February 24, 2013. The nominations will be announced on January 10.