Here Is How Oscar Nominee Dev Patel Made His Mark in Our Hearts
Where do I even begin to write about this bundle of talent and handsomeness that is Dev Patel? The charming British-Indian guy was born to Indian Hindu Gujarati parents on 23rd April 1990 and raised in London. We all remember him for his performance in the Oscar-winning movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. But his journey in the entertainment world began way before that. On his special day, let’s take a moment to admire the award-winning actor and fall for him even harder.
Deadline
Did you know Dev’s mom was the reason why he got into acting? (Thank you, mom) She used to commute in trains for work and one fine day she came across an advertisement for a casting call. She pushed Dev to audition for the role after making him bunk his school. The audition as it turned out was for the UK television series called ‘Skins’. His awesome acting got him the part of Anwar Kharral, a Muslim teen. The teen comedy-drama dealt with issues like depression and eating disorders that plagued the teens of Bristol. And thus the journey began.
BuzzFeed
Dev got his big break when he was cast in Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ in 2008. He was only 18 when he portrayed the role of Jamal Malik from the slums of Mumbai. This movie helped him break the image of Indian stereotypes and catapulted him into instant stardom overnight.
Awards Circuit
Despite the success of Slumdog Millionaire and the various prestigious nominations that the movie earned for Dev, his journey wasn’t as smooth after it. He struggled to find roles that resonated with him or moved him. He felt he was being typecast as he got offered many clichéd roles for sidekicks.
India Today
His struggle soon ended when he was cast in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its 2015 sequel as Sonny Kapoor, a hotel owner who indulges in crazy antics to win over the elderly British guests staying at his hotel.
NPR
Meanwhile, he also featured in HBO’s popular serial the Newsroom as Neal Sampat, a British member of the News Night show. This role earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and made us admire his knowledge in tech.
IndieWire
Soon after, Dev Patel had offers pouring in from every direction to work with some of the biggest names in the Hollywood industry. In 2017, he acted in the movie ‘Lion’ and was nominated for his first-ever Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actor. He essayed the role of Saroo Brierley, an Indian child who gets accidentally separated from his family at a railway station. Eventually, years later, he tries to locate his family using Google Maps. The film was exceptionally loved and acclaimed worldwide for Dev’s stunningly moving performance.
The Asian Age
He was last seen in Hotel Mumbai which was based on the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj hotel which crippled the city. His performance was highly appreciated as he brought to life the character of a staff member of the hotel who puts his own life at risk to ensure the safety of the guests and his colleagues.
Newsweek
Thank you for showing us hard work can take you places. Don’t stop hustling. We love you and can’t wait to see you on the big screens again!
