SS Rajamouli Celebrates RRR’s Feature in Oscars’ New Stunt Category Reveal

Hyderabad: Celebrated filmmaker SS Rajamouli expressed joy after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) highlighted his film RRR in the official announcement introducing a brand-new Oscars category for Best Stunt Design.

On Thursday, the Academy revealed that a new award honoring stunt design will be included for the first time at the 100th Oscars ceremony, recognizing films released in 2027. According to Variety, the inaugural award under this category will be presented at the 2028 Oscars.

Rajamouli shared his excitement on social media after RRR was mentioned alongside Mission: Impossible, starring Tom Cruise, in the Academy’s announcement poster. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rajamouli thanked filmmaker David Leitch, action designer Chris O’Hara, and the stunt community for their role in securing this recognition.

“Finally!! After a 100-year wait!!! So excited about the Oscars introducing a stunt design category for films from 2027. Immense gratitude to David Leitch, Chris O’Hara, and the entire stunt community for this milestone, and to @TheAcademy, CEO Bill Kramer, and President Janet Yang for acknowledging the art of stunt work. Overjoyed to see #RRRMovie featured in the reveal!” Rajamouli posted.

Variety further reported that eligibility criteria and voting guidelines for the new category will be disclosed in 2027, as part of the Academy’s 100th awards rulebook. Presentation specifics will be finalized by the Academy’s Board of Governors. The most recent addition to the Oscars was the Achievement in Casting category, introduced in 2024 and set to debut at the 98th Academy Awards for 2025 films.

Jeff Wolfe, president of the Stuntmen’s Association, called the new stunt category a pivotal moment for the industry. In a statement to Variety, he said, “This is an incredible day for our community. The Academy’s decision to recognize stunt action design with its own Oscar is historic. Stunt professionals have long been essential to cinematic storytelling—risking injury to deliver breathtaking moments. This validation celebrates our creativity, passion, and dedication.”

On the professional front, SS Rajamouli is preparing for his next directorial venture, tentatively titled SSB29, featuring actor Mahesh Babu. The script has been penned by Vijayendra Prasad, though additional details about the cast remain undisclosed.