TRAGIC

Slumdog Star's Home Demolished

Indian authorities called slum dwelling “illegal.” 

They may have enjoyed the spotlight at the Academy Awards, but the young stars of Slumdog Millionare are back to harsh reality in the slums of Mumbai. Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail—who played the young version of one of the main character—awoke on Thursday morning to find Indian authorities demolishing his home as part of an initiative to reduce shanties in Mumbai’s slums. Officials said that the homes, which consisted mainly of wood and tarp, are illegal, and that the displaced families would be relocated. But Ismail's family may have nowhere to go: A trust was set up for the young stars of the movie to have good educations and safe homes, but it won’t be available until they finish high school.