Robert De Niro surprised with first Oscar nod in 21 years

Los Angeles: Hollywood legend Robert De Niro, who has earned an Oscar nomination for his role in `Silver Linings Playbook`, is surprised that the nod comes 21 years after his last win.

De Niro last took home an Oscar in 1981, for his portrayal of the real-life world middle-weight champion, Jake LaMotta, in `Raging Bull`, reported CBS News. "I was surprised that it was so long. I can account for all the things and all the time, and everything, but there it is. It`s like, so many years ago," he said. In `Silver Linings Playbook`, De Niro plays Pat Solitano, Sr, an obsessive-compulsive, die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan, who struggles to deal with his even more obsessive and mentally-unstable son. This is the seventh Oscar nomination for the 69-year-old actor, who said he has been extremely lucky in his career to have achieved whatever he has. "I`m lucky that I have whatever I had that makes me have a successful career, if you will... I`m lucky I have the drive to do the work. But you`re always lucky," he said. PTI