Slumdog makers buy flat for child star

MUMBAI: Once under fire for not doing enough for its impoverished Indian child stars, the makers of Slumdog Millionaire said yesterday they had bought a flat for one of them whose Mumbai shanty home had been demolished.

Director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson flew into Mumbai after pictures of Azharuddin Ismail and Rubina Ali picking through the debris of their homes - torn down by the civic authorities as illegal - were splashed in the media.

Smiling and hugging the children, Boyle said a home had been bought for Ismail, 9, who played the character of Salim as a child. He added they would soon buy one for Ali as well, who plays the young Latika.