The 2025 Academy Awards began with first-time host Conan O’Brien delivering a lively and engaging opening monologue. Setting a warm and inclusive tone, he greeted viewers in India with a “namaste” and spoke in Hindi, acknowledging the time difference and jokingly hoping they enjoyed their breakfast while watching the Oscars.
O’Brien then shifted focus to the Best Picture nominees, adding his signature comedic touch. While discussing Conclave, he quipped, “I’m a Catholic boy, loved Conclave. If you haven’t seen it, don’t worry—it’s a movie about the Catholic Church.”
During the ceremony, the camera panned to a Best Actress nominee whose awards season had been overshadowed by controversy due to past social media remarks. Maintaining his humor, O’Brien joked about the evening’s rules before playfully calling out Adam Sandler’s choice of a bright blue hoodie. Sandler, unfazed, responded with, “I like the way I look because I’m a good person.”
The 97th Academy Awards aired live at 7 PM ET on ABC and Hulu, with audiences in India tuning in via JioHotstar.
