98th Academy Awards Set for March 16; 'Sinners' Eyes Record-Breaking Wins Amidst Notable Indian Presence

Los Angeles. The 98th Academy Awards (Oscars), the most prestigious award in the world of cinema, will be held on March 16 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, America. The live broadcast will begin on Monday morning according to Nepali time.

This year's Oscars have garnered worldwide attention as the Hollywood film 'Sinners' received a record-breaking 16 nominations in various categories.

'Sinners' Could Break Titanic's Record
The American film 'Sinners' has become the first film in Oscar history to receive 16 nominations. Previously, 'Titanic' and 'La La Land' held the record with 14 nominations each.

If this film succeeds in winning more than 11 categories, it will become the film with the most awards in Oscar history. This record is currently held by 'Titanic', 'Ben-Hur', and 'Lord of the Rings' (11 awards each).

Priyanka Chopra and Indian-Origin Gita in the Spotlight

Although no film from India has been nominated this year, the presence of artists of Indian origin is strong. Bollywood and Hollywood actress Priyanka Chopra will once again host the stage as an Oscar Award presenter after 2016. She is the first Indian artist to be an Oscar presenter twice.

Furthermore, two documentary films by Indian-origin filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir, 'The Perfect Neighbor' and 'The Devil Is Busy', have been nominated in different categories.

Leonardo DiCaprio's Sixth Nomination and the Start of a New Category

Acclaimed actor Leonardo DiCaprio has received his sixth nomination for Best Actor for the film 'One Battle After Another'. His film received a total of 13 nominations. This year, the Best Casting category has also been added to Oscar history for the first time to honor the work of casting directors.

Some Interesting and Controversial Facts About the Oscars

Beginning and Name: The Oscars began in 1929, and the first ceremony lasted only 15 minutes. It was only from 1939 that it began to be called 'Oscar'.

Award for a Dog: At the first Oscar ceremony, there was a plan to give an award to a trained German Shepherd dog, Rin Tin Tin, but later it was decided to give it to a human, fearing it would send the wrong message to society.

Will Smith's Slap: The incident in 2022 where actor Will Smith slapped host Chris Rock on stage became the most controversial in Oscar history.

Stolen Trophies and Trash Piles: In 2000, 55 Oscar trophies were stolen, 52 of which were later found in a pile of garbage.

Wrong Announcement: In 2017, due to swapped envelopes, 'La La Land' was announced as Best Picture instead of 'Moonlight', which was later corrected.