Oscars 2017: Sunny Pawar Wins Hollywood Hearts; Priyanka Chopra’s Geometric Outfit Creates Buzz; ‘Lion’ Snubbed

One of the most memorable moments of the night at the 89th Academy Awards was the one shared between host Jimmy Kimmel and Indian actor Sunny Pawar.

Not only was the “Lion” actor a red carpet sensation Feb. 26, posing in a poised manner with the likes of “The Amazing Spider-Man” actor Andrew Garfield, he was a total rock star once inside Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Calif. Dressed in a black-and-white tuxedo with a bow tie and colorful shoes for his first appearance at the Oscars, Pawar was a good sport when Kimmel enlisted his help to recreate the famous “Lion King” scene. When Kimmel asked Pawar if he had watched the film and Pawar replied in the affirmative, the late-night show host went ahead and lifted him in the air much like Simba and Mufasa did in the 1994 animated classic. Needless to say, Hollywood was charmed with his innocent smile and confident demeanor.

Another cute moment that the TV and mobile cameras did not miss was when model Chrissy Teigen dropped to her knees to hug the 8-year-old. She also tweeted a video of her hugging the pint-sized star. And as if that wasn’t enough, she retweeted the video, saying, “Finally,” explaining just how excited she was to meet the little star.

Hollywood actor Samuel Jackson was also one among many fans of Pawar. The 68-year-old actor took to Instagram to share what he thought of Pawar’s performance in “Lion.” He wrote: “This is who should have won Best Actor tonight, Sunny Pawar of Lion! Totally Killed It!”

Though he received pure unadulterated love from Hollywood’s elites at the prestigious award ceremony, his film “Lion,” however, wasn’t so lucky. The tearjerker family drama starring British Indian actor Dev Patel, Pawar and Nicole Kidman, went into the night with six nominations, including ‘Best Picture,’ but came back empty-handed. Many had anticipated the film to secure the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ award for Nicole Kidman and the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ award for Patel. The film, which is adapted from Saroo Brierley’s memoir “A Long Way Home,” and which tells the incredible true story of an adopted Indian boy who searches for his family after he was stranded at a train station as a child, and later adopted by an Australian couple, was also predicted to register a win in the “Best Adapted Screenplay’ category.

Sporting a white tuxedo, Patel, who eventually lost the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ award to “Moonlight’s” Mahershala Ali, attended the ceremony with his mother, who wore a black saree with a golden border.

Talking about the red carpet, Priyanka Chopra has been winning a legion of fans with her fashion style. The Bollywood actress, who is not afraid to take fashion risks, zeroed in on a white gown by Ralph & Russo, which accentuated her curves, for her second appearance at the star-studded event. She complemented the form-fitting geometric gown with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and sleek, side-parted hair with minimal makeup. In our view, though she stood out at the glam event, this wasn’t her best look. But she did look stunning at the Vanity Fair after-Oscar party, which she attended in a black shimmery Michael Kors Collection gown.

IANS adds: Indian actor Om Puri, whose repertoire as an actor reflected a rare realism and was popular for films like “East Is East,” “Gandhi,” “City of Joy” and “Wolf,” was honored in the “In Memoriam” montage at the Academy Awards.

Puri, who died after a heart attack in Mumbai in January earlier this year, got a musical tribute by Grammy and Tony-nominated singer and songwriter Sara Bareilles.

He was included in the annual montage along with Carrie Fisher, Prince, Gene Wilder, Michael Cimino, Patty Duke, Garry Marshall, Anton Yelchin, Mary Tyler Moore, Curtis Hanson and John Hurt.

Bareilles delivered a special performance of the Joni Mitchell song, “Both sides now.” A visibly emotional actress Jennifer Aniston introduced the memoriam segment.

Puri was known for his deep baritone and different acting style, as well as craggy, pockmarked but distinctive face. He had an affinity for socially relevant cinema.