All We Imagine As Light
fell short at the 2025
Golden Globes
, losing in both the
Best Director
and Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language categories. Despite the losses, the Indian filmmaker's historic nominations have sparked immense pride among fans, who have taken to social media to cheer her on with messages like “Proud of you.”
Kapadia, who made history as the first Indian woman nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes, was in the running alongside industry heavyweights including Brady Corbet 'The Brutalist', Jacques Audiard '
Emilia Perez
', and Edward Berger 'Conclave'. The award ultimately went to Corbet for his post-Holocaust epic 'The Brutalist'.
In the Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language category, Kapadia’s poetic and critically acclaimed film lost to Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez, a genre-defying narco-musical that has dominated the awards season with its bold storytelling and innovative vision.
Despite the loss, Payal Kapadia was spotted cheering for other winners with a smile on her face.
Despite not taking home a trophy, Kapadia’s journey to the Golden Globes has been celebrated as a milestone for Indian cinema on the global stage. Fans flooded social media with messages of support, highlighting the significance of her achievement.
“You’ve already made history!” wrote one fan. Another tweeted, "No wins for All We Imagine As Light at
Golden Globes 2025
. It's heartbreaking but honestly, I'm proud of Payal Kapadia and the film. It did what it was supposed to do - make an impact."
Still another expressed their desire to watch the actress score an
Oscar nomination
next week, "Congrats to Brady Corbet but I'm still holding out hope that Payal Kapadia will end up in the Academy's final five."
Another wrote in a tweet, "So proud of Payal Kapadia and her beautiful film All we imagine as light. I sit up a little straighter, with my heart feeling so full seeing her name being announced. Here’s to more success, audience and acclaim in the coming years."
'All We Imagine As Light' stars KKusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, Anand Sami, and Hridhu Haroon in the lead roles. It is currently streaming on Disney + Hotstar. It follows Prabha, a troubled nurse who receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, and Anu, her young roommate seeking intimacy with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to confront their desires.
'All We Imagine As Light' premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in its much-feted 'competition section' on May 23. It was the first Indian film to feature in the festival's main segment in 30 years. The last Indian movie to make it to the competition section was Shaji N Karun's Swaham in 1994.
And in December, Payal added a page to the history books by becoming the first Indian director to receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director.
While the Golden Globes outcome wasn’t in her favour, the film’s impact continues to resonate worldwide. The Golden Globes have often been a precursor to the Academy Awards, and Kapadia’s fans remain hopeful that her groundbreaking work will gain further recognition as awards season progresses.