/> The posh American film-company Film Independent which honours independent films and makers across the world, on Tuesday announced its 2008 Spirit Awards.

And rubbing shoulders in the Best Supporting Actor category with the stalwarts of world cinema like Steve Zahn, Marcus Carl Franklin and Kene Holliday is our own Irrfan Khan nominated for his performance as Tabu's silently progressive husband in The Namesake.

The Spirit Awards which are held a few days prior to the Oscar ceremony in LA are usually seen as a precursor to the Oscars.

And the buzz that Irrfan would now be nominated for an Oscar now grows strongers.

Speaking from New York Irrfan could barely contain his surprise. "Mira Nair got the hugely prestigious Gotham award, and I was there to watch this historic moment. Barely 24 hours later comes this announcement about me.

The Spirit award is to me every bit as prestigious as the Oscar. Unlike the Oscars it's a totally independent award based entirely on merit rather than lobbying. So whoever gets nominated gets in there solely by merit.

I'm honoured to be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Don Cheadle, Frank Langella and Philip Seymour Hoffman (all nominated in the best-actor category). Philip is my favourite actor in the world."

In fact Irrfan met his favourite actor after the Gotham awards at a party on Monday. "His versatility has always taken my breath away. He started with just two scenes in Scent Of A Woman. Somewhere I identify with him. When I met him yesterday it was a dream come true."

And Uma Thurman whom Irrfan had little chance to interact with at the lunch hosted by the actress for Mira Nair and her Namesake crew on Monday afternoon spent a good half an hour chatting with Irrfan at the post- Gotham party.

"Uma had seen both my new films A Mighty Heart and The Namesake. She said it was unbelievable that the same actor could do two such dissimilar films."

If all goes well, Irrrfan may do a film with Uma who was supposed to play the lead in Vishal Bhardwaj's Julia, based on the life of Fearless Nadia until she quoted a price that left Vishal in a stagger.

"I'm not surprised," laughs Irrfan. "She's every bit worth what she asks for."