Danny Boyle takes Slumdog child stars out for fun & games

Updated on: 26 February,2009 10:14 AM IST |
Agencies |

Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle decided to spend some quality time with the young stars of his Oscar-winning film.

Slumdog Mil-lionaire director Danny Boyle decided to spend some quality time with the young stars of his Oscar-winning film.

Danny Boyle accompanied Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed to Santa Monica Pier for a seaside day out of fun and games.

Rubina Ali clutched a handful of toys as she walked alongside a female chaperone. And Azharuddin Moha- mmed Ismail was seen walking on the California beach.

Danny and producer Christian Colson said Azharuddin, Rubina and their families would be moved to new apartments in the coming months.

And in a new turn of events, officials from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authorityu00a0 have also said they want to gift the children a new flat each.

There was a public outcry after pictures emerged of the child stars still living in squalor, despite the fact that the film had grossed u00a370million worldwide.

One showed 10-year-old Azharuddin sleeping on a rotting makeshift mat a bed he shared with his parents while another featured him crouched down by rubbish, washing in dirty water.

The shack that Rubina, who plays the young heroine Latika, calls home is just yards from an open sewer.

Colson and Boyle said the children's families were looking at new apartments on the edge of the area where they live. "These are bricks and mortar flats. They will have electricity, running water and good sanitation.

They will still be close to their friends and extended family. They don't want to move too far away from them," Danny said.

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