Patel nominated for Best Supporting Role for Lion.
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Indo-British actor Dev Patel has been nominated for an Oscar – in the Best Supporting Role category – for his role in “Lion,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday. The Oscar nomination isn’t just noteworthy because it’s Patel’s first ― it also makes him only the third actor of Indian descent in history to receive one in an acting category.
It’s been over a decade since the last actor of Indian descent, Ben Kingsley, received a nod, Mic.com pointed out. Kingsley, who was nominated for his role in “House Of Sand And Fog,” has received four nominations in total, winning once.
Merle Oberon, another actor of Indian descent, also received a nomination for her role in the 1935 film, “The Dark Angel.” However, Oberon attempted to conceal her heritage for much of her life, reported The Huffington Post.
The few Indian actors with Oscar nods reflect the lack of Asian representation in Hollywood as well as the larger diversity issue in media. Asians nabbed only 3.9 percent of speaking roles in film ― a dramatic discrepancy from the amount white entertainers receive at 73.7 percent, a study on diversity within popular films from 2007–2015 revealed.
The “Lion” star and his film had drummed up buzz late last year, earning him a nod for the role at the Golden Globes in January. Though he didn’t win, the star still stole the show when he introduced his film with 8-year-old Sunny Pawar.
Patel will have some stiff competition in the category, vying for the award alongside Mahershala Ali (”Moonlight”), Jeff Bridges (”Hell or High Water”), Lucas Hedges (”Manchester by the Sea”) and Michael Shannon (”Nocturnal Animals”).
The Los Angeles Times did an interview with Patel after his nomination, and he expressed his gratitude to Garth Davis [director of “Lion”].
Patel is at present in India, for his role in the film “Hotel Mumbai.”
“I literally just got the news, and I’m talking to you within 20 minutes of hearing. I’m sitting in this hotel in the best reception spot I have. I called my mother and she was at work in the care home, and she just started screaming and crying and everyone was looking through the glass wondering why she’s making a big scene,” Patel said in the interview.
He added later on in interview: “I’m gonna get in the car, and then I’m gonna go get in the shower and probably break down. I’ve been holding it in. I need a good cry in the shower.”
The Oscars ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on Feb. 26 and will air live on ABC.