On Oscar day, a make-up artist came at noon to get me ready. We arrived at the venue in a limousine. All at once I felt this surge of emotions -- of happiness, nervousness and excitement.
We were subjected to intense security checks at the venue. We had to carry our passports to prove our identities. Cameras were not allowed.
As soon as we got out of our car, our Slumdog team whizzed us through the red carpet and onto the stage where our names were called out. After that, we headed back to the red carpet, and walked really slow. We gave lots of interviews. It was quite a moment.
I got a chance to meet Sarah Jessica Parker, who congratulated me. I told her how honoured and shocked I am to be on the red carpet. I saw Anne Hathaway. She was very humble and did not behave like a celebrity. She spoke to all of us. She even signed Tanay Chheda's autograph book. Sadly, I did not carry any autograph book with me.
At the end of the red carpet, we met Meryl Streep. She has been nominated 15 times and yet, she bowed before us. She hugged all of us, and asked her niece to talk to Ayush, Azhar and Rubina. She signed six autographs on Tanay's book and told him to give us one page each.
I saw Daniel Craig but we could not talk to him.
We were seated on the ninth floor of the auditorium. Our seats were very good because we could see the stage clearly.
After watching the Oscars, I wanted to talk to Hugh Jackman. He was such a brilliant host.
Each time Slumdog was called out, we would scream and jump out of our seats. When A R Rahman performed, there was pin drop silence. We were called down to the stage when Danny was giving his acceptance speech for Best Director, so we missed what he said. Then we came down and waited just in case our name was called out.
In the picture: (front row left to right) Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Rubina Ali, Ayush Manesh Khedekar, (back row left to right) Ashutosh, Tanvi and Tanay.
Listen to:
Liquid dance from Slumdog
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