Darsheel Safary, the nine-year-old hero of ‘Taare Zameen Par’ has been nominated in the best actor category at the 53rd Filmfare Awards. The big deal about it is that he's the first child actor to have ever been nominated in a leading role.

Darsheel made a mark with a fantastic performance of a dyslexic child in ‘Taare Zameen Par’ which was Aamir Khan’s directorial debut.

The creative director, Amole Gupte, of ‘Taare Zameen Par’ says "I have no reactions. He has stepped in to the heart of the nation and that is the biggest award anybody would want".He also adds, "The film itself is anti-judgmental and I would have no view on what his family or anyone would want from him. He's a nine-year-old and I give him the benefit of doubt."

Darsheel will be competing with big names like Shah Rukh khan, Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Shahid Kapur for the best actor’s title. The film has also been nominated for various other categories like the best picture, best director, best supporting actor and best lyricist.

Other films competing for the coveted best film award are the sensational hockey drama, ‘Chak De! India’, Mani Ratnam's ‘Guru’, Imtiaz Ali's entertainer ‘Jab We Met’ and Farah Khan's masala mix, ‘Om Shanti Om’.

‘OSO's leading lady Deepika Padukone has bagged the nomination for the best actress category. Other nominees include Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for ‘Guru’, Kareena Kapoor for ‘Jab We Met’, Madhuri Dixit for her comeback ‘Aaja Nachle’, Rani Mukherji for ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’ and Vidya Balan for ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’.

This year seems to be inclined to the debutantes with Safary, Padukone and Aamir Khan bagging most of the nominations. Aamir Khan will be vying for the best direction award along with Farah Khan, Shimit Amin, Mani Ratnam, Imtiaz Ali and Anurag Basu.

The 53rd Filmfare awards will be announced on Feb 24, the same day the Oscars are announced.

Sure seems like the Indian Oscars, the Filmfare awards!