Mumbai: Actors Ali Fazal and Kumail Nanjiani are ecstatic as their films "Victoria & Abdul" and "The Big Sick" respectively scored nominations at the 90 Academy Awards.
The Fazal and Judi Dench-starrer bagged two nods in Best Costume Design, and Best Make-up and Hairstyling categories and the actor feels grateful for the recognition.
"And here's to the @TheAcademy for nominating us for Costume Design and Hairstyling and Make up at the 90th oscars this year. It's an absolute honour.
"And my heartiest congratulations to all the other nominees in all categories. Great year and great films to be rubbing shoulders with," he wrote on Twitter alongside stills from the Stephen Frears-directed movie.
Nanjiani's film received one but major nomination in the leagues for the Original Screenplay Oscar, which the actor co-wrote with his wife Emily V Gordon.
The Pakistani-American actor-stand-up comic, who also stars in the biographical film, said the Oscar nomination is surreal feeling for him and he would "never get over" it.
"Emily and I met when she heckled me at a comedy show in the back of a diner in 2006. We wrote a movie about it and 12 years later we're nominated for an Oscar..." he tweeted.
He also praised "The Shape of Water" for scoring the highest (13) nominations at this year's Oscars.
"Also, how cool is it that a Guillermo del Toro monster movie is the leader in Oscar nominations? The answer is very.
It's very cool," he wrote.
"Kobe Bryant and I have the same number of career Oscar nominations," Nanjiani quipped.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who also stars in "The Big Sick", took to social media saying he was proud to be a part of the film.
"Congratulations @emilyvgordon and @kumailn for the #OscarNominations for Best Original Screenplay for @TheBigSickMovie. So proud to be part of this gem of a film," he wrote.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.