Indo-British actor Dev Patel has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Role category for his perormance in Lion.
Dev has not only made it to the Oscar nominations for the first but has also made a history by becoming the third Indian origin actor to figure in the list for the Academy Award.
While Ben Kingsley, an Indian origin, was nominated for House of Sand and Fog in 2004, the first Indian decent Oscar nominee of Indian descent was The Dark Angel actress Merle Oberon in 1935.
Expressing his joy, the 26-year old actor also released a press statement.
The nominations announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday has Mahershala Ali, Jeff Bridges, Lucas Hedges and Michael Shannon competing with Dev in the same category for Moonlight, Hell or High Water, Manchester By The Sea and Nocturnal Animals respectively.
Last year, Dev Patel attended the 88th Oscars in California as a presenter alongside actress Daisy Ridley.
The Slumdog Millionaire actor lost a chance to win his first Golden Globe for Lion in the best supporting, however he told PTI that more than winning, he was looking forward to celebrate the film at the Globes and was happy to be mentioned alongside great actors.
Directed by Garth Davis, the film Lion is based on the non-fiction book A Long Way Home. And it also features Rooney Mara and Nicole Kidman.
Here’s the trailer: