Slumdog child stars get new homes

The two child actors from the hit movie, 'Slumdog Millionaire' are to get new permanent homes before the monsoons hit Mumbai, funded from the trust fund that was set up for them by the producers of the movie.

Child actors of the Oscar winning feel-good flick, Slumdog Millionaire are to get new homes finally after their rickety shanties were destroyed earlier this month. Nine-year old Rubina Ali and eleven-year old Azharuddin Ismail lost their homes after the Mumbai authorities demolished them on the note that they were squatting on illegal land. The plight of both the children was not so different from what was shown in the movie where they yearned for a roof above their heads. But director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson stepped in and had officials of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) who manage their trust that they set-up for the slum dwellers, to finance new permanent homes for the kids, reports The Times of India TISS director S. Parasuraman said,

"We have bought a new home for Azharuddin and the details are being finalized for Rubina's home. Both their homes will be near their schools."

"We have deposited substantial funds in banks through the trust which will support them financially.”

Sukhdeep Chhabra

A shot from the movie

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More than half of the population in Mumbai lives in the slums. The city also houses the Dharavi, arguably the largest slum colony in the world. The rags-to-riches story grossed around $343 million and went on to win 8 Oscars. The trust fund set up for the child actors of the movie will support their education till they are 18.