Slumdog Kids Skipping School

Too much fame may cost the child stars of Slumdog Millionaire their windfall trust funds. After appearing in the Oscar-darling film, the two child actors from the slums of Mumbai shot to stardom and have since booked other film roles and commercials. Their busy schedules have diverted them from their studies, says a trustee, and now they're in jeopardy of losing the monthly stipend of $120 that director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson set up for them. Azhuraddin Mohammed Ismail's school-attendance record is at 37 percent, and co-star Rubina Ali's is a mere 27 percent. The rules of the trust stipulate that if their attendance falls below 70 percent, they must forfeit their monthly stipend. And if they don't finish their secondary education, they'll also be forgoing a "significant" lump-sum payment.