--- title: "Who was the first Indian to win an Academy Award?" description: "Who was the first Indian to win an Academy Award?" author: "Shrikant Mishra" published: 2019-07-18 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/62206/who-was-the-first-indian-to-win-an-academy-award category: "general knowledge" tags: ["general knowledge", "awards"] reading_time: 2 minutes --- # Who was the first Indian to win an Academy Award? Who was the first Indian to win an Academy Award? ## Answers ### Answer by UTKARSHA SINGHROUL The **first Indian to win an [Academy Award](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/30616/who-was-the-first-actor-to-get-oscar-award) i.e. Oscar Awards was one and only female till now “Bhanu Athaiya” in the year 1983, in 55th Academy Awards presented on April 11, 1983.** ![Who was the first Indian to win an Academy Award?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/e301dba4-6c6b-4680-bbe1-f30064f5c76b/images/5de830ba-15ab-4a07-80c9-cf6cbef191fa.jpeg)\ \ **Her real and full name is “Bhanumati Annasaheb Rajopadhye”.** She is a **famous [Indian](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/52136/name-of-the-artist-who-became-the-first-indian-to-be-awarded-the-joan-miro-prize) Costume Designer** who worked in more than 100 movies in her career. Since the **1950s, she worked with famous film-makers like Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, [Yash Chopra](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39262/who-has-been-conferred-with-the-5th-edition-of-yash-chopra-memorial-award-2018), Ashutosh Gowarikar, along with International Directors that are Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough.** \ Though **A.R. Rahman, Resul Pookutty, and Gulzar have also won the Oscar Awards in the year 2009**. However, s**he is still the only Indian [woman](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/308/need-to-create-a-supportive-work-environment-for-women) to win an Oscar Award** till date. She won her one and **only Oscar Award as a ‘Costume Designer’ for the movie “[Gandhi](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/20411/why-did-i-kill-gandhi)” Directed by Lord Richard Attenborough**. \ Apart from this, **she was nominated twice in Oscar Awards f**or her Costume Designs but didn’t get the award for it. Both the movies are the year **2001 release, Amir Khan Starrer ‘Lagaan’** and year **2004 release, [Shah Rukh Khan](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/47222/which-is-the-best-film-of-shah-rukh-khan) starrer ‘Swades’**. Her some initial works which made her famous as a costume designer were Pyaasa, Chaudhvi Ka Chand, and Saheb Biwi Aur Gulam. \ In **December 2012, she decided to return her honor of Oscar Award, after she found out that she is diagnosed with a deadly disease ‘Brain Tumor’**. As, she felt after she is gone the safest place for keeping the Award, would only be the Academy. She **also won two [National Film Awards](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/44892/for-which-categories-the-film-anhe-ghore-da-daan-won-59th-national-film-award-in-2011) in the year 1991 and 2002,** for movie Lekin and Lagaan respectively. In the year **2009, she was honored with ‘[Filmfare](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/33068/in-which-year-filmfare-awards-started) Lifetime Achievement Award’**, and in the year **2013, she received ‘Laadli Lifetime Achievement Award’.** \ Her **first film as a Costume Designer was Guru Dutt’s ‘C.I.D.’ in the year 1956**, and till now her **last movie was Ashutosh Gowariker, ‘Swadesh’ released in the year 2004.** --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/62206/who-was-the-first-indian-to-win-an-academy-award Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.