In this handout photo provided by NBC Universal, presenters Sunny Pawar (l) and Dev Patel seen onstage during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 8, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Paul Drinkwater\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
British-Indian actor Dev Patel, who earned his maiden Oscar nomination in best supporting actor category for \u201cLion,\u201d said Jan. 24, the feeling is yet to sink but he is filled with an \u201coverwhelming sense of gratitude.\u201d \u2013 @siliconeer #siliconeer @Hollywood #Hollywood #DevPatel #Lion #SlumdogMillionaire #Oscars @Bollywood #Bollywood #NicoleKidman @NicoleKidman #2017AcademyAwards<\/p>\n
Alluding to the role that India has played in his career, be it his debut \u201cSlumdog Millionaire,\u201d or \u201cLion,\u201d Patel says the country holds a special place in his heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, so I just received a call to say that I\u2019ve been nominated for an Academy Award…<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be totally honest, the news hasn\u2019t made it\u2019s way into my brain yet, but I\u2019m looking at these beautiful smiling faces around me… Faces of the ones I love. And I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude,\u201d the 26-year-old actor said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes this moment so much more poignant is that I\u2019ve just wrapped shooting another film in India. This enthralling country holds such a deep place in my heart, and it is where Saroo\u2019s journey was born,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Patel, who plays the role of a man I search of his lost parents in India in the true life inspired drama also thanked his director and co-stars.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis film would be nothing without Garth Davis. Without his love, commitment and vision this \u201cLion\u201d wouldn\u2019t have been able to roar. To that extent I want to share this incredible feeling with Luke, Grieg, Jenny Kent, Iain, Angie, Emile, Sunny, Nicole, David, Rooney, Divian, Priyanka, the Brierley family as well as the Weinstein Co team.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2019Lion\u2019 reaffirms the message that love is not dictated by the color of your skin, not by race, gender, sexuality, social status, or origin. It is a message I am proud to be spreading during these uncertain times. This will forever be one of the most memorable experiences of my life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Patel has received widespread praise for his performance as Saroo Brierley with critics hailing it as a career-defining moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cLion,\u201d which co-stars Nicole Kidman, is also nominated in the Best Picture category alongside awards favorite romantic musical \u201cLa La Land,\u201d \u201cArrival,\u201d family drama \u201cManchester by the Sea,\u201d \u201cMoonlight,\u201d war movie \u201cHacksaw Ridge,\u201d \u201cHidden Figures,\u201d African-American drama \u201cFences\u201d and \u201cHell or High Water.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2017 Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 26.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In this handout photo provided by NBC Universal, presenters Sunny Pawar (l) and Dev Patel seen onstage during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 8, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Paul Drinkwater\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) British-Indian actor Dev Patel, who earned his maiden Oscar nomination in best supporting actor…<\/p>\n