MUMBAI MIRROR (January 2, 2017)

Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman who played Dev Patel's adoptive mother in Lion, says she could really relate to him as a maternal figure on the film's sets. “I would go up to him and stroke his hair and touch his face and hold his hand. He gave permission for that, which was terrific,“ she gushed, adding, “I also think now you'll see Dev as a leading man, not as an Indian man or anything other than a leading man. I look forward to his journey into all of that now.“

The movie directed by Garth Davis is creating a major Oscar buzz, thanks to its successful run in the Hollywood award season. It is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley, a young Indian boy who gets separated from his brother and mother when he ends up 1,000 miles away from his home, lost at a train station in Kolkata. He is adopted by an Australian family but eventually tracks down his lost family in India via Google maps.

Patel is already nominated in the best supporting actor category at the Golden Globe Awards.