Slumdog Millionaire child actor's home demolished
09:51, 16 May 2009
NEW DELHI. May 16. KAZINFORM The 10-year-old star of Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire has been thrown back onto the streets after his shanty home in Mumbai was demolished by local authorities, regional media reported on Friday. Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail lives in the Garib Nagar slum in Bandra East, Mumbai, along with another 20 children, including Rubina Ali, 9, who starred in the early scenes of the $326 million grossing film, which took eight Oscars, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
The demolition occurred on Thursday when officials said the illegally built shacks were blocking the construction of a key drain. The residents have not been provided with alternative accommodation but have been promised new homes before the monsoon season, due in early June.
"We have nowhere to go. We are just sitting on the road in the blazing sun right now. All our belongings and other household goods have either been thrown out or damaged. We don't know what we will eat today," the boy told the Indo-Asian News Service.
The families of Azharuddin and Rubina have been pinning their hopes on being granted new apartments in Mumbai, which were promised by authorities in February. The flat allocation has been delayed following the announcement of general elections, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.