Bindu Das in Mumbai

He hasn't won the Oscar, but actor-producer Aamir Khan is content with the love, affection and support he has had from the people of India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka, London and New York.

His debut production Lagaan, was nominated as Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Annual Academy Awards. The Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles was venue to the awards held on March 24.

Aamir Khan, director Ashutosh Gowariker and their wives -- Reena Dutt and Sunita Gowariker -- have been staying at an exculsive West Hollywood hotel for the last couple of weeks. The foursome attended the Oscar ceremony in ethnic Indian wear. Aamir wore a simple, no-fuss black sherwani Mumbai designer and India's Giorgio Armani, Shahab Durazi. Ashutosh Gowariker made a striking foil in a white Bhanu Athaiya sherwani. His wife Sunita wore a white, delicately-embroidered Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla chikan sari. While Reena opted for a black Tarun Tahiliani sari with red embroidery threaded along its pallav.

Post the Oscars party, a grateful Aamir says, from LA, "I thank them [the people] from the bottom of my heart. That is that is my biggest victory. That is much more than the Oscars.

"We lost out to an extremely good film from Bosnia called No Man's Land. It has a very sensitive subject, with its underlying message being: war is no good.

"No Man's Land was definitely a very good film. In fact, we should applaud the film. We Indians should be sporting enough and not be disappointed.

"There is great talent in India. I am sure we will win the Oscars one day. We had tremendous support from the Academy. That, too, is a great achievement.

"Lagaan is being re-released by Sony Pictures Classics in May in the US. It will release in Europe as well. That is a rare occasion for a Hindi film; not many films have enjoyed a Pan-European release.

"I plan to be back in India by next week. I'll start work on the subject of my next film."