It’s a double whammy for Rajkummar Rao! In an amazing coincidence for the quiet and unassuming actor, the day his political satire Newton released, the film was also selected by the Film Federation of India to go to the Oscars next year as India’s official entry in the ‘Best Foreign Film’ category.

Rajkummar, who plays the title role, unburdened his excitement on Peeping Moon.com on hearing the announcement. “I am very glad and thrilled. It’s a big day. The film just opened today and we got the news about the nomination. It’s a double celebration for all of us.” He tweeted earlier, “Very happy to share this news that #NEWTON is India’s official entry to the #OSCARS this year. Congratulations team.”

He said he knew Newton director Amit Masurkar since his first film Love Sex Aur Dhoka in 2010.  “He worked behind the scenes for that film. I’m happy that he thought of making Newton. It’s a unique concept,” Rajkummar added. The film is based on a government servant’s adventures in a Naxal-controlled town in the conflict-ridden jungles of Chhattisgarh.

“It was not easy to shoot in the Chhattisgarh jungle and all credit goes to Amit,” said Rajkummar in praise of the director. Would he like to work in more offbeat cinema like Newton?  “I am going to listen to my heart. Whatever excites me as an actor, I will go ahead and do,” he said.

 Newton also stars Pankaj Tripathi, Anjali Patil, Raghubir Yadav and Sanjay Mishra. It got the International Federation of Art Cinemas Award (CICAE) at the Berlin Film Festival in February. Raghubir Yadav, who plays an election officer in Newton, said, “We were told such films are not liked by the audience, but the truth is that audiences do like such films. When a film like this gets nominated, it revives our trust in movies.”

The 90th Academy Awards will be presented by US comedian, TV host and writer Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on March 4, 2018.