A day before finally the very awaited Oscar nominations were unveiled in which La La Land got 14 nominations while Lion has secured six nominations.

Dev Patel who is nominated in Best supporting actor nomination said, "Ok, so I just received a call to say that I've been nominated for an Academy Award. To be totally honest, the news hasn't made its way into my brain yet, but I'm looking at these beautiful smiling faces around me, faces of the ones I love. And I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. What makes this moment so much more poignant is that I've just wrapped shooting another film in India. This enthralling country holds such a deep place in my heart, and it is where Saroo's journey was born. This film would be nothing without Garth Davis. Without his love, commitment and vision this Lion wouldn't have been able to roar. To that extent I want to share this incredible feeling with Luke, Grieg, Jenny Kent, Iain, Angie, Emile, Sunny, Nicole, David, Rooney, Divian, Priyanka, the Brierley family as well as the Weinstein Co team. Lion reaffirms the message that love is not dictated by the color of your skin, not by race, gender, sexuality, social status, or origin. It is a message I am proud to be spreading during these uncertain times. This will forever be one of the most memorable experiences of my life."

The films Lion also stars Hollywood actors like Nicole Kidman and Bollywood actors like Sunny Pawar, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose, Deepti Naval and a cameo by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Directed by Garth Davis, Lion is slated to release on February 24, 2017, in India.

India poster of Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman starrer 'Lion' is unveiled

Dev Patel is getting inspired by Deepika and Priyanka