All said and done

Amitabh Bachchan, Paa
Screen sets the temperament of the award season by being the first off the block. I do look forward to witnessing the final results.

Ranbir Kapoor, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani / Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year
Ajab Prem… is special because I got the chance to work with a director like Rajkumar Santoshi. What endeared me to Rocket Singh was the character.

Saif Ali Khan, Love Aaj Kal
Not available for quote

Shahid Kapoor, Kaminey
Doing the film is worth all the appreciation and accolades that it is been getting since. Kaminey will always remain a special film for me.

Aamir Khan, 3 Idiots
Not available for quote

Best Actor (Female)

Deepika Padukone, Love Aaj Kal
Being nominated is the result of the hard work that one puts in,and then the appreciation you get for your performance is definitely a happy feeling.

Kareena Kapoor, 3 Idiots
3 Idiots is truly special as it’s a path-breaking film and my biggest blockbuster.

Katrina Kaif, New York
New York was the first non-commercial film without the usual trappings,like songs,that I agreed to do. It was life-changing for me in many ways.

Priyanka Chopra, Kaminey / What’s Your Raashee?
I’m very humbled and so very pleased. What a way to start the New Year.

Vidya Balan, Paa
Very honestly,I did not think about getting an award. My entire attention was focused on playing my part well,which was not easy for me.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)

Abhimanyu Singh, Gulaal
Since I read in the papers that I have been nominated,I’ve lost sleep. I believe that to get good results one has to stay focused.

R. Madhavan, 3 Idiots
I am touched with my nomination because it was fun doing the film. I felt like I was back in college.

Rishi Kapoor, Love Aaj Kal / Luck By Chance
An actor puts his blood,sweat and hard work in a role but doesn’t know what the end product will be. So it is a wonderful feeling when the work is appreciated.

Sharman Joshi, 3 Idiots
It feels good because I didn’t expect the nomination at all,but now that I am nominated,I would like to thank Raju Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra for giving me an opportunity.

Best Actor in a Supporting role (Female)

Arundhati Nag, Paa
I did think my character will get noticed. And it was a learning experience to be working with Amitabh Bachchan.

Divya Dutta, Delhi-6
I was somewhere hopeful that I would be nominated because Jalebi’s role was one of a kind. Her daredevil attitude and her inherent vulnerability were a great combination.

Gauhar Khan, Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year
The most flattering part is that Shimit Amin found the character of Koena in me after auditioning close to 200 girls.

Neha Dhupia, Raat Gayi Baat Gayi?
I never think of awards and this nomination was a lovely surprise. It is the energy of all the actors that has made me do a good job.

Shahana Goswami, Firaaq
I was not really prepared to be nominated,and had prepared myself to go as an audience,relax and enjoy the show. Now I have a purpose.

Best Actor in a Negative Role

Amole Gupte, Kaminey
The truth is I have been a student of cinema for 28 years and I have the ability to pull out a googly. There is a certain grammar that I have invested in as an actor.

Boman Irani, 3 Idiots
I never had any expectations of getting any award for 3 Idiots,but my wife did and her first reaction was ‘I told you so’.

Kay Kay Menon, Gulaal
I have been nominated for several films,and this is just one more time. Gulaal is entirely Anurag Kashyap’s baby and shows his caliber as a director.

Mahesh Manjrekar, Wanted
A villain is a bad person but it is not necessary that he looks bad as well. Even my director Prabhudeva agreed to this and it seems to have worked.

Manish Chaudhari, Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year
I have acted in many plays,but it was the first time the large canvas and the wide reach of films hit me. The response has been overwhelming.

Best Actor in a Comic Role

D Santosh, Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year
It is an exhilarating moment for me because I have never won an award ever.

Omi Vaidya, 3 Idiots
Chatur’s character is a hit because there is a Chatur in everybody. It was a very relatable character and this is a great start to my career.

Paresh Rawal, De Dana Dan
Though it was the first time I was playing a conman,I tackled the role like I would have any other part.

Sanjay Mishra, All The Best
My effort has always been to enjoy my work and make others enjoy too.

Vinay Pathak, Raat Gayi Baat Gayi?
Playing Amit was a breeze. Even if I don’t win it is still an honour and privilege for me to be nominated.