Boyle working to get 'Slumdog' stars homes

Published: May 27, 2009 at 1:42 PM
81st Academy Awards in Hollywood

MUMBAI, May 27 (UPI) -- British film director Danny Boyle has gone to Mumbai to help secure housing for two of the impoverished child stars of his hit film "Slumdog Millionaire."

The temporary homes of 9-year-old Rubina Ali and 10-year-old Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail in the slums of Mumbai were recently demolished by city officials.

E! News said Boyle and "Slumdog" producer Christian Colson met with the children, who attended the glitzy Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles last Frebruary, and their families Wednesday to talk about finding them new homes.

"We've been trying for a long time to move them into legal accommodation," Boyle told reporters at Mumbai's Tata Institute of Social Sciences. "Inevitably, the tension and pressure is media generated. They were given access to a world, an extraordinary and glamorous world, and they understandably want their lives to be completely transformed."

The "Slumdog" filmmakers created the Jai Ho Trust to provide money for college education and living expenses for the young actors. They are expected to spend about $100,000 on new homes for the children, E! said.

Despite their efforts, Ali's father, Rafiq Quereshi, said he is tired of waiting.

"It has been five to six months," he said. "Everything is available in Mumbai if you have the money. If you really want to get us a house, you can get us a house in two days. After the Oscars, they forgot about us."

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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