New Delhi: A nine-year-old Darsheel Safary 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.

“I have no reactions. He has stepped into the heart of the nation and that is the biggest award anybody would want,” says Creative Director, Taare Zameen Par, Amole Gupte.

He 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.”

Safary will be competing with biggies like Shah Rukh khan, Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Shahid Kapur for the best actor title. The film has also been nominated for best picture, director, supporting actor and lyrics award.

Other films vying for the coveted best film award are the gripping hockey drama, Chak De! India, Mani Ratnam's Guru, Imtiaz Ali's entertainer Jab We Met and Farah Khan's unapologetic masala, 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 with Aaja Nachle, Rani Mukherji for Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Vidya Balan for Bhool Bhulaiya.

It seems to be the year of 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 as the Oscars.