Several years ago, Dev Patel made his cinematic breakthrough in the multi-Oscar winning drama Slumdog Millionaire (2008) for which he played the main character Jamal Malik.

Since then, he has found some success with supporting roles in the likes of HBO’s The Newsroom (2012-14) as well as the British box-office hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and its sequel.

However the Harrow-born actor is taking centre stage for the upcoming biopic Lion which tells the remarkable true story of Indian-born businessman Saroo Brierley.

Cited as a potential awards contender, the film’s official trailer has now premiered online.

Directed by Garth Davis (Top of the Lake), the plot focuses on Saroo who as a child gets separated from his family while train-hopping with his brother. After surviving the rough streets of India, he ends up being adopted by a doting couple who take him back to their native Australia. Two decades later, Saroo attempts to track down his original family via Google Earth.

Patel is joined in the film by Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Carol) as Saroo’s girlfriend while David Wenham (Lord of the Rings trilogy, Top of the Lake) and Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge!, The Hours, Australia) play his adopted parents.

Lion will be released in the UK sometime in January 2017.