Thursday, May 28, 2009

STILL WESTERN HELPING INDIAN HERO NOT THE INDIAN GOVT

Danny Boyle buys new home for Slumdog child star

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Danny Boyle (Reuters) Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Danny Boyle (Reuters)
Thu, 28 May 2009 10:18a.m.
video

Slumdog Millionaire filmmaker Danny Boyle has bought a new apartment for child star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail after he was left homeless following the demolition of his shanty home in Mumbai, India.

The director and the movie's producers plucked Ismail, 10, and his co-star Rubina Ali, nine, from impoverished obscurity to appear in the Oscar-winning film and established the Jai Ho Trust last year to help fund their education.

But the kids' plight has captured headlines in recent weeks after both children's families were booted out of their homes and forced to live on the streets of India by local authorities.

Boyle and producer Christian Colson flew into Mumbai this week to see how they could help the young stars.

And after meeting with several of the film's stars at the private lounge of the city's Jw Marriott hotel on Tuesday, Boyle announced he's purchased a new home for Ismail and is planning to do the same to put a roof over Ali's head too.

Boyle says, "The homes are a concern. That is one of the reasons why we built the trust."

A spokesman for the Jai Ho Trust describes Ismail's new apartment as "comfortable, in a good neighbourhood (and) near his school", with the property costing "upwards of two million rupees" (£28,000).

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