Slumdog Millionaire may be just a movie to all of us, but some of the child actors were literally living the slumdog life in Mumbai. According to E!, two of those kids will leave the Garib Nagar slum behind for new homes courtesy of the Indian government.
Amarjeet Singh Manhas, the chairman of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority said Rubiana Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, the youngest Latika and Jamal, “are special and have won laurels for the country and we want to felicitate them.” Currently, Rubiana’s family lives in a one-room shack while Azharuddin’s takes shelter under a tarp near a busy road. The new homes are expected to be one-bedroom apartments in Mumbai’s suburbs, but official details have yet to be announced.
Eight Oscars, a trip to Disney and a new house? Whether or not the exploitation rumors are true, the little stars seem to be well compensated now. Not only did director Danny Boyle confidently deny this concept, but he also teamed up with the film’s producers to set up trust funds for his youngest stars. They’re also taking care of the kids’ education bills.
Nothing good can come without a jealous somebody else putting his or her foot down. There’s the Indian government’s political opposition who calls the gesture a mere pre-election stunt, and then there’s your average American who criticizes the government for putting its primary focus on these two families and not the country’s poverty predicament as a whole. Give me a break. These kids starred in the most decorated film of the year and someone wanted to give them a pat on the back; just this pat comes in the form of a house. Let them enjoy the moment and the opportunity; they really do deserve it.
