Suraj Sharma nominated for BAFTA rising star award

Life of Pi lead star Suraj Sharma is the only male actor nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star award this year.

The Indian actor is nominated alongside British actresses Juno Temple, Andrea Riseborough, Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander in the running for the award recognising new talent in the film industry, reported The Telegraph.

Suraj, 19, is the only male nominee on the shortlist, selected by a judging panel including Sherlock Holmes actor Benedict Cumberbatch and director Kevin Macdonald.

"To even be counted amongst this and the last seven years' rising star nominees feels utterly phenomenal! Bafta nurtures new talent throughout the international film community so I am so very grateful to be given this fantastic opportunity, and look forward to us celebrating the kind recognition together," Riseborough said.

The Dark Knight Rises actress Temple, 23, was at the nominations launch at Bafta (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) headquarters in London.

"I'm so honoured, truly down to my toes. And I think it's so exciting to be up there with these amazing, amazing young talented actors that are doing such beautiful work. And it's so good to be part of a British Bafta thing," said Temple.

Previous winners include James McAvoy, Tom Hardy, Eva Green, Shia LaBeouf and Kristen Stewart.

The award is voted for by the public and the winner will be announced on February 10.