'Slumdog' kid star to move into new home next week
MUMBAI, India — One of the impoverished child stars from "Slumdog Millionaire" will move from his shanty home in one of Mumbai's more wretched slums into a new apartment next week, his mother said Sunday.
"On Friday we got the keys," said Shameem Ismail, the mother of child star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, who played the young Salim in the Oscar-winning hit.
The family started moving in over the weekend, bringing pots and pans, a television set, and their birdcage. They plan to fully relocate by Tuesday, she said.
Both Azhar and his co-star Rubina Ali lost their homes in May after civic authorities demolished parts of the slum where they lived.
Within days of the demolition, Azhar's family rebuilt their home — a shanty of corrugated metal, wood, and blankets, meager protection against the pounding monsoon rains sweeping across Mumbai.
But the filmmakers bought Azhar a 250-square foot one-bedroom apartment on the ground floor of a building in the Santa Cruz neighborhood of Mumbai, not far from where he now lives and attends school.
The $50,000 apartment will be transferred to Azhar's name when he turns 18, provided he finishes school, said Nirja Mattoo, who helps oversee the Jai Ho trust set up by "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson. The fund is meant to secure an education, housing and a living allowance for the two children.
Mattoo said Sunday that the trust is still looking for an apartment for Rubina, who has lived with relatives in the slum since the demolition.
"Slumdog Millionaire" has grossed over $350 million worldwide.
Additional reporting by Manish Mehta in Mumbai.
Comments
- Ground broken for Flight 93 site 3:54 p.m.
- Flying fork accidentally stabs girl 3:43 p.m.
- Obama asks House to vote on bill 3:42 p.m.
- Officer describes Fort Hood firefight 3:41 p.m.
- Suspect identified in Seattle killing 3:39 p.m.
- Y. scientists rip lawmakers on climate 3:21 p.m.
- Nature's Sunshine lawsuit settled 3:19 p.m.
- Hall, Cougars crush Cowboys 2:57 p.m.
- Pitt beats Syracuse 37-10 2:43 p.m.
- No. 24 Wisconsin holds off Indiana 2:41 p.m.
- Report details Prop 8 aftermath
410 - Gay advocates trek to LDS office
202 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Letters: Care not a right
187 - Lobo suspended
169 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Jazz stumble in fourth quarter
106 - RSL rallies to advance
102 - Prep football: San Juan vs. S. Sevier
100 - Thousands protest health bill
98
f you don't have an Xbox 360 and always wanted one, Saturday is your day.
bit concerned. WY runs the spread offense. BYU shut it out. WY has a fairly...
the problem is not the science. All we hear about are the scientist saying...
The Feds can't manage what they have now, why should we give them more? This...
Hardly ever in actual practice? That's how it happens. It's not an option....
Actually, I'm a very true blue BYU fan who lives in Dallas. I'm not crazy -...
A bunch of really dumb, childish, silly, immature comments. Some of you are...
So far the 18 scientists have given no proof nor offered any proof, just...
The Cougs are just two fluke losses from a top-5 ranking and a shot at the...
Note to Rich Manning: I hope that you watched the Real Salt Lake game...
THATS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLITITIONS THINK THEY ARE BETTER SCIENTISTS THE THE...



You can be the first to comment on this story.