Sunny Pawar: How many people in the world saw me, you think?

Enjoying his first taste of fame, 'Lion' child artist Sunny Pawar returns to his Santacruz home to tell the story of a hug from "tall uncle" Samuel Jackson

Sunny Pawar at his residence in Kunchi Kurve Nagar, Kalina, after returning from Los Angeles. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Kunchi Kurve Nagar, a Santacruz slum, hasn't seen this kind of media attention. Their most famous resident, Sunny Pawar, 8, returned this morning from Los Angeles after being at the centre of much-talked about attention at the 89th Academy Awards. Garth Davis' 'Lion', a film about an Indian boy adopted by Australian parents, saw stellar performances by him and the likes of Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel.

Sunny is received at the airport by the media. Pic /Pradeep Dhivar

The airport, and later, his neighbourhood was buzzing with journalists, keen to catch Sunny for a moment.

Sunny Pawar at Oscar's red carpet

Party workers of a political outfit that his father, Dilip, is affiliated with, waited to give him a hero's welcome. His neck strung with garlands, mouth stuffed with sweets, Sunny was lifted into the air to cheers, much the same way Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel did, making the iconic moment a favourite with international paparazzi.

Sunny Pawar with Triple H

His mother, Vasu, who in an exclusive interview to mid-day had expressed concern that he was homesick, was overwhelmed to see him after long. "It feels wonderful. I am glad to be back with my mother. I can finally go to school and play with my siblings," Sunny told mid-day.

Sunny Pawar with Jackie Chan

About the Oscar moment, he said he felt like a star when Kimmel lifted him. "I didn't understand much of what he [Kimmel] was saying but everyone's reaction gave me confidence. I saw my father looking happy and Dev bhaiya [Dev Patel] was smiling. I knew this was huge," he added, suddenly asking, "How many people across the world saw me, you think?"

Sunny Pawar with Dev Patel

It's not just the awards night that made Sunny's time in the US special. He met dignitaries like Barack Obama, movie superstars including Jackie Chan, and "a tall uncle" [presumably Samuel Jackson], who gave him a hug and said he will go far. But his favourite moment was when he met his idol, WWF star The Rock. "It was my dream to meet Rock, and I watched a wrestling match live," he said.

Sunny Pawar

Vasu thinks her son is fortunate to have met international names despite his humble roots. "He'd always imitate Bollywood actors and participate in school plays, but we didn't think he'd come this far," she said.

Sunny Pawar with family

His father and Pranav Sahni, production manager at Take One Productions, helped Sunny with translations on tour.
That he was always given Indian food made him feel at home. "I'd eat rice, dal, dosa and sambhar, but it reminded me of my mother's cooking," Sunny recalled.

Sunny Pawar with idol, WWF star The Rock

His grandfather Bhima Pawar, 64, says his chawl has become famous because of Sunny. "We have strangers coming to ask us about his whereabouts. Though Lion is an English movie, everyone from the neighbourhood has gone and watched it for Sunny," he said.

Sunny Pawar at Oscars

Celebdom has its perks, even for those surrounding the star. Aena Pawar, Sunny's cousin, told mid-day that friends who would once bully her have suddenly grown kind after realising that Sunny has made it to Hollywood.

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