Subhash K Jha (DNA; February 12, 2015)

At the recent BAFTA awards David Beckham almost tripped over our own Nimrat Kaur’s beautiful gown. It was an oops moment that Nimrat will cherish forever, just like The Lunchbox.

Nimrat returned from London without winning an award, but nonetheless triumphant. “Just being there nominated in the Best Film Not In The English language category was an honour. I’d agree with Irrfan when he says just being nominated was the award,” she says.

Nimrat says she loved reuniting with the film’s team who had accompanied her to BAFTA. “Every time we come together to celebrate The Lunchbox it’s like the first time,” says Nimrat who recently walked the red carpet in Los Angeles for the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards (SAG). “At the Screen Guild awards I came to face-to-face with my childhood idols Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. At BAFTA I was looking at an august gathering that included Stephen Hawking. I was gawking,” she laughs.

Nimrat got to give away two awards on stage. “Yes! I was asked to give away the awards for best music score and best documentary.” While waiting backstage for her turn to give away the awards she ran into football legend David Beckham. Recounting the memorable encounter Nimrat says, “He was waiting with me backstage to give away awards. We started talking. I was disarmed by his nervousness about going on stage. The idea of going on stage was giving him the jitters.” In his nervousness Beckham stepped on Nirmat’s stunning gown and nearly tripped over. “Yes, David Beckham did step on my gown. I guess the dubious honour of having the football legend trip on my dress must go to me.”

She is now back in Mumbai ready to start shooting for the new Akshay Kumar starrer Airlift. “It’s my first encounter with a mainstream film. I’ve been patiently waiting for the right vehicle to launch myself in Hindi films.”