Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Slumdog Millionaire child star gets new home

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail is given apartment

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail | Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail in Slumdog Millionaire | Now Magazine

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail is excited about having a new home

Slumdog Millionaire child star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail now has a new permanent home.

The actor's dwelling in the slums was demolished by Mumbai authorities last month.

But his family's now been given an apartment by the Maharashtra Housing Authority Development Agency.

‘We can now sleep with a roof over our heads and we can leave the smell behind,’ he says.

‘It is so much larger that where we used to live and I am very grateful to Mumbai for giving me this house. I can’t wait to move in but I will be sad to leave my friends.’

It's emerged the Jai Ho Trust – set up by the film’s director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson - has also offered him a larger flat.

‘We signed the papers on Monday,’ a spokesman tells the Hindustan Times. ‘We have the keys and we will hand them to the family.

The charity also plans to buy a flat for Azharuddin's co-star Rubina Ali, 9.

SEE PICTURES Slumdog Millionaire - from the streets of India to the heart of Hollywood>>

SEE PICTURES Slumdog Millionaire wins big at the Oscars>>