After Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman-starrer Lion picked up six Academy Awards nominations yesterday, Best Supporting Actor nominee Dev Patel was overwhelmed
Dev Patel
Dev Patel at the premiere of his film. Pic/Getty Images
After Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman-starrer Lion picked up six Academy Awards nominations yesterday, Best Supporting Actor nominee Dev Patel was overwhelmed. Speaking to hitlist on the phone from Los Angeles, the English actor of Indian origin (his parents, both Gujaratis, hail from Nairobi), said, "Okay, so I just received a call and learnt that I've been nominated for an Academy Award. To be honest, the news hasn't made its way into my brain just yet, but I'm looking at these beautiful smiling faces around me... faces of the ones I love. And I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude."
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Lion is the real story of Saroo Brierley, an Indian boy adopted by an Aussie couple, who decides to search for his biological parents when he grows up.
The actor said what made this occasion all the more poignant was the he has just wrapped up shooting for yet another film in India.
"This enthralling country holds such a deep place in my heart, and it is where Saroo's (the character he plays in Lion) journey was born. Lion would be nothing without Garth Davis (director). Without his love, commitment and vision, this 'Lion' wouldn't have been able to roar."
Dev says the film is special for the message it conveys.
"It reaffirms that love is not dictated by the colour of your skin, race, gender, sexuality, social status or origin. I feel proud of spreading this message during these uncertain times. This will forever be one of the most memorable experiences of my life."
It has been reported that Dev spent eight months perfect an Australian accent, and changing his looks to look like his character, Saroo Brierley.
Lion, written by Luke Davies, is based on A long Way Home by Saroo Brierley, and stars Nicole Kidman, Dipti Naval, Priyanka Bose, Tannishthaa Chatterjee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The book and film are inspired by the real-life search for his family by an underprivileged boy from India adopted by an Australian couple, aided by Google Earth search.
Early this month, Dev was also nominated for the film at the Golden Globes but didn't make the cut.
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