Interview: Executive Producers Raj Kapoor & Katy Mullan Are Oscar Nerds Just Like You

Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan have executive produced the last two iterations of The Oscars, bringing Hollywood’s biggest night to life for both those in attendance at the Dolby Theatre, as well as those watching at home on ABC across the country.

“We want that room to be warm, inviting, inclusive, and interactive,” says Kapoor. “Because then people watching at home will also be connected.”

The Oscars have experimented with several different creative visions over the years, operating without a host from 2019-2021, and welcoming a trio of hosts (Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes, and Amy Schumer) in 2022. Some shows have been rather understated, reflecting solemn moments in the entertainment industry and perhaps the culture at large, while others have been flashy and celebratory, capturing creative peaks for film as an artform. With COVID at the forefront of audiences’ minds, the 2021 Academy Awards were mellow and mature. With the industry still abuzz in the wake of Barbenheimer’s unprecedented success, the 2024 Oscars – the duo’s first as executive producers – were appropriately energetic and playful.

Of course, no matter the tenor of the year leading up to the telecast, nor the overall tone of the lineup of films nominated at a particular ceremony, Kapoor and Mullan remain responsible for producing an enjoyable and satisfying conclusion to the awards cycle, embracing cinephiles and casual viewers alike. In 2025, that charge led the producing duo to a late night legend whose return to television as host of the 97th Academy Awards was such a success, he has already been invited back for next year’s ceremony! Conan O’Brien’s comedic chops proved the perfect fit for The Oscars; the decision to bring him back in 2026 proved a no-brainer for Kapoor and Mullan.

“The joy that you saw emanating from Conan was all real, and he made us all feel that,” says Kapoor. “So for us, we also felt really happy and really joyful putting the show together with him, so we welcome the opportunity to do it bigger and better this coming year.”

As the entertainment industry endures new pressures from various angles, The Oscars sit at a fascinating crossroads as well. This latest iteration seemed to offer a particularly fresh perspective on celebrity and the role that Hollywood’s A-listers play (or don’t play) in the ceremony. Megastars like Meryl Streep and George Clooney were nowhere to be found, but the night felt like a proper anointment for younger stars like Timothée Chalamet and Mikey Madison, the new guard of Hollywood celebrities. For the pair of executive producers putting the show together, the evening conveyed a moving story of generational influence, wherein newcomers paid tribute to those who came before them.

“There is so much reverence for past movies and other people who have worked in the business,” says Kapoor. “Filmmaking is one of those things where you learn on the job, so you learn from all this vast material that is already out there, and then you can make your own creations that hopefully inspire another generation.”

As a piece of live television celebrating the best that cinema has to offer, The Oscars take on more and more significance each year. The care that Kapoor and Mullan put into the entire production therefore plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of both mediums. Listen to our full discussion with the duo below!