The real Slumdog Millionaires

visa Washington Post

The two adorable Slumdog Millionaire stars Azhar Ismail and Rubina Ali have taken America by storm with their new hit film. On their first trip to America, they have been to Disneyland and the Oscars--every kids dream. But now that the Oscars are over, 10-year-old Azhar and 9-year-old Rubina return to the slums of Mumbai where they live.

The two children, who play the young versions of the main characters Latika and Salim in the film, are promised two new homes for their families and trust funds set up by the Indian government and the filmmakers of Slumdog, though they have not received either yet.

Azhar and Rubina live in the poverty stricken area of Bandra in Mumbai. A government official said, "These two children have brought laurels to the country, and we have been told that they live in slums, which cannot even be classified as housing." This slum, like those featured in the movie, makes up much of the country. A quarter of the population of India lives in the slums like Azhar and Rubina.

The movie is having incredible success and has raked in nearly $100 million in North America. There has been much debate to whether the moviemakers exploited the children’s talents by not compensating them adequately—as they were paid in Indian wages, which are significantly less than US dollars.

While the movie raised awareness about the country and the issues, there was no fund created or any further efforts to support the cause on a larger scale. There are many questions to ask. First of all, is it a sincere gesture to honor their hard work with the film? Or is it an act of charity to promote the film’s popularity? Let us know what you think. Comment below!

By CGG Reporter, Caroline Kotter