Arthur J Pais

In their pockets, most Oscar nominees carry a small speech or at least the names of people to be thanked.

They also prepare for ubiquitous questions from television reporters waiting for them on the red carpet outside the auditorium. Some of them may find the questions -- like how are you feeling today? -- a bit irritating. Yet they put on friendly faces, and try to give politically correct, polite answers.

But some responses make more interesting watching. "I pay attention to things around me instead of worrying about what is going to happen," said Will Smith, nominated for Ali. "Like this carpet is not really red, it is burgundy," he added with a hearty chuckle.

The fact that a musical was made at all and that it went onto become a box-office hit and to get major nominations are by themselves big recognitions, said Baz Luhurmann, maker of Moulin Rouge. "We are already there, it is done," he had told the best actress nominee Nicole Kidman the other day. "We have had our dream. Tonight it is just a party."

Ron Howard, nominated best director for A Beautiful Mind, said he had been anxious for several days but decided to "zen down." He said, "There is no anxiety any more."

There was some anxiety for Denzel Washington, best actor for Training Day, who was the second African-American (apart from Sidney Poitier). "The real anxiety starts as the award announcements are approaching," he said.

Helen Mirren, a nominee for best supporting actress for Gosford Park, said she could not understand how she was nominated for a film known for its ensemble acting. (Her co-star Maggie Smith was also nominated). A few minutes later Mirren lost to Jennifer Connelly for A Beautiful Mind.

But before the ceremony, Mirren described her nomination as a bit of oxymoron since the movie was known for its ensemble work. But she was glad for the nomination and glad for the opportunity to be in Hollywood, she said.

And last but not the least, news from the Indian contingent. Just before the Oscars, director Ashutosh Gowariker confessed, "Mila to theek hai [if we get the award], nahin mila to [if we don't get it] it's just like winning it."

Ashutosh was resplendent in Bhanu Athaiya's creation, a white sherwani. His wife Sunita was elegant in a white chikan sari, an Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla ensemble.

Aamir Khan, after much indecision about which designer to choose -- from among Tarun Tahiliani, Shahab Durazi and Anand Jon -- opted for a stunning black sherwani. Wife Reena Dutt spotted a regal look in Tarun Tahiliani's black sari with red embroidery along its pallav. The impact was very 'modern-day princess'.