WASHINGTON – Extending support to the ‘dreamers’ in the US, Pakistan-origincomedian Kumail Nanjiani and actor Lupita Nyong’o from Kenya took a dig attheir own immigrant status during the 90th Academy Awards in Los Angeles onSunday evening.
Before presenting the award for the Best Production Design, Nyong’o statedthat Nanjiani and herself were the two actors whose names people havetrouble pronouncing.
Nanjiani joked, “Kumail Nanjiani is my stage name. My actual givenPakistani name is Chris Pine. So you can imagine how annoyed I was when theother – the white one – showed up – The real Chris Pine.”
Nyong’o, whose latest release Black Panther is doing well at the boxoffice, continued that she was an immigrant from Kenya. Nanjiani alsosnapped, “And I am from Pakistan and Iowa, two places that nobody fromHollywood can find on the map.”
Nyong’o, who won the Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years A Slave in 2014,shared, “Like everyone in this room and everyone watching at home, we aredreamers. We grew up dreaming of one day working in the movies. Dreams arethe foundation of Hollywood and dreams are the foundation of America.”Following this, The Big Sick actor then continued, “And so, to all thedreamers out there, we stand with you.”
Their comments come amid an ongoing immigration debate in the US over aprogram that protects hundreds of thousands of young immigrants fromdeportation.
Amongst all the debate, Nanjiani and his wife Emily Gordon missed out onwinning an Oscar for their original screenplay for the film The Big Sick.The film also features Indian actor Anupam Kher.
It was the first nomination for the couple. However, the award went toJordan Peele for Get Out, beating other nominees Lady Bird, The Shape ofWater and Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri.
The Big Sick is loosely based on the real-life romance between Nanjiani andGordon. It follows an interracial couple who must deal with culturaldifferences after Emily becomes ill.
When the Oscar nominations were announced earlier this year, Nanjianitweeted, “Wow. Emily and I met when she heckled me at a comedy show in theback of a diner in 2006. We wrote a movie about it and 12 years later we’renominated for an Oscar. I will never get over this.”