DANNY BOYLE - YOUNG SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE STARS TO BE REHOUSED

YOUNG SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE STARS TO BE REHOUSED

Two of the child actors from Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire are to be given new homes, the Indian authorities have announced.

Azharuddin Ismail and Rubina Ali play Jamal and Latika, the romantic leads of Danny Boyle's film, as children and left India for the first time last weekend to attend the Academy awards.

Despite being plucked from the Garib Nagar slum in Mumbai and cast in the best picture winner, the two children have remained in dilapidated housing.

But according to a local housing official, the pair had "brought laurels to the country" and deserved to be rehoused.

"Since the children have made the nation proud, they must be given free houses," said Amarjeet Singh Manhas.

"The chief minister of the state has approved this."

Boyle and the film's producers had strongly denied claims the children were underpaid for their participation in the film, explaining at the Oscars that the children were enrolled in school and are set to land a windfall payment if they remain in education until they reach 18.

The makers of Slumdog Millionaire had also offered to provide housing for the families concerned until local officials made the new offer.

"We have barely got any money from the film-makers. In fact, whatever came, has already been spent," Azharuddin's father Mohammed told the Times of India.

"This decision is a piece of good news for us.''

And Rubina's father Rafiq Qureshi added: "Our house was demolished a couple of times by the authorities, the last time being three months ago.

"We are happy that we will have a permanent roof over our head.''