10-year-old child star of "Slumdog Millionaire" - Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail - had his home bulldozed today in a Mumbai slum. Azharruddin was sleeping when a policeman woke him up and told him to get out. The boy lives with his family in a shanty town.
"A police officer took a bamboo stick to hit me, and I was frightened," Azhar said.
The authorities said that the family will be given a new home somewhere else.
Oddly, despite $326 million in earnings and 8 Oscars for "Slumdog Millionaire," the two child stars of the film are still living in poverty.
Slum demolitions are rather common in Indian cities, motivated by officials who wish to keep crowds in control.
Azhar's mother says, "They didn't give prior notice. We didn't even get a chance to take out our belongings." Even though she and the family have lived in the shanty town for longer than 15 years, she has no legal claim to the land. "I don't know what I am going to do," she said, glancing at a plastic bag next to her, stuffed with her family's things.
Families living in demolished shanties are often promised relocation into government housing, but more often than not those are empty promises.
The filmmakers of "Slumdog" claim they've done what they can to help the young stars. A trust was set up for the kids' housing, their education, and a little nestegg for when they finish high school.
None of that seems to be helping Azhar, though, who is now homeless.
Source | Photos | Photos
