Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 16 (ANI): Casting director Mukesh Chhabra has expressed immense pride and delight over Cassandra Kulukundis's big win at the 2026 Oscars.

The veteran casting director, Kulukundis, received the first Academy Award ever presented for casting for her collaboration on Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another'.

Taking to his X handle, Mukesh Chhabra penned a long note, sharing how he manifested the moment for years.

https://x.com/CastingChhabra/status/2033442459917885669

'I'm honestly so, so happy. I can't even explain how happy I feel. I've been manifesting this moment for years. Seeing the Academy Awards finally recognise the importance of casting directors means so much to me. Cassandra Kulukundis winning the first-ever Academy Award for Best Casting at the 98th Academy Awards One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is truly a historic moment for all of us in casting,' he wrote.

Chhabra emphasised how the profession of casting deserves more value.

'I really hope this opens people's eyes to the value of casting and gives this profession the respect it deserves in our country as well. I hope that in India, too, people begin to understand and respect the work of casting directors the way it is respected in Hollywood. Its high time we all come together and celebrate this moment,' he added.

At the Academy Awards, Kulukundis, who appeared to be shocked by the news, dedicated her win to all the casting directors who fought for the recognition.

'I have to obviously thank the Academy for even adding this category and for the casting directors who fought tirelessly to make it happen despite everything in their way. I dedicate this to you and to the casting directors who never got a chance to get nominated, who didn't even get a chance to get their name on the movie. So this is for you guys,' she said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

Kulukundis also gave a shoutout to filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson and added, 'I just thank you for 10 movies. We've done this for years, we grew up together, I guess, and this is freaking insane. I have one before you, which is also crazy. So, yeah, I hope you get one tonight.'

Prior to 'One Battle After Another', Cassandra Kulukundis had worked with the veteran filmmaker on many films like 'Magnolia', 'There Will Be Blood', 'The Master', 'Punch-Drunk Love', 'Phantom Thread', 'Licorice Pizza', and 'Inherent Vice'. (ANI)