Dev Patel, who was nominated for
an Academy Award for actor in a supporting role for his part in “Lion,” has
big plans for celebrating his nomination news: a shower.
Are you freaking out?
That is the understatement of the
century. It kind of hasn’t fully permeated my brain. I’m just so overwhelmingly
grateful to the universe and the master of that universe, Garth Davis [director
of “Lion”].
I am seeing on Twitter that
you’re the third Indian actor to be nominated for an acting award.
Wow. Who are the other two? I
need to find out. But this is just such a beautiful moment. I think it’s a time
of celebration.
So you’re in India filming a
new movie?
Yes, “Hotel Mumbai.” It’s 7:30
p.m. I’ve been out here for two weeks. We’re just finishing off the shoots, so
we’re nearly done, and I’ll be back in Los Angeles in two days.
You had quite a first Oscar
experience with “Slumdog Millionaire.” What do you remember?
I remember walking down the red
carpet and rubbing the bottoms of the Oscar statues as a good luck ritual. I
remember going on the stage carrying Rubina, the young actress, and it was just
like seeing all of those young faces in absolute ecstasy.
And this time around, little
Sunny might be with you.
Yes! He’s so incredible in this
film, and I share this nomination with him in a big way.
So this time at the Oscars,
more of the focus will be on you.
I think the first time we were
there, it was all such a blur, and it was hard to really kind of make heads or
tails of it all. Now that I’ve been there a couple of times — last year to
present documentary — I know it’s amazing to just watch people in those
moments of joy. People in the dark who have been in editing rooms for months.
To go there again, alone in a way, with this nomination, it’s really
special.
OK, so your work day is over.
What will you do to celebrate?
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.
Will you take her to the show
if you can?
100 percent. That’s her moment.
I’m her guest.
You ’ ve
spoken a lot over the past few months about how hard it was to get a role like
this as a guy who looks like you. Does this feel like vindication?
Completely. I think every actor
faces their own unique struggles in this industry, and every one of those journeys
I’ve been on has been a unique learning experience. “Lion” came to me
three years ago. I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’ve done in this film
without that struggle. The life experience to embody that character -- it feels
like it has accumulated to this moment. I put everything I had into that film.
Every part of my soul went into this journey and getting it right. A script
like that, for myself, is such a rarity. I wanted to do it justice.
It also gave you your new long
hair look.
The “Lion” mane! Clearly,
that’s Garth’s vision to cover my big ears. I’m sticking with it because I’m
playing a character in this film who is a Sikh and wears a turban, and
underneath that, he’s got a big bun.
So man bun up next?
Maybe.
Where are you off to next?
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.
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