The father of Azharuddin Ismail, a child star of the Academy award winning movie Slumdog Millionaire, has demanded more money for his son in a bizarre attempt of making his son a show pony. The boy was taken from a Mumbai slum to play Salim, brother of the film’s protagonist and paid £700 during the shoot. Another £17,500 will be available to the boy with interest when he turns 18 for working in the movie that grossed £123 million worldwide.

The boy also gets £20 as monthly allowance and the family is to get a new house worth £20,000. But Mohammed, his father is not happy with the arrangement and wants the film’s director Danny Boyle to hand over all the money immediately without having to wait till Azharuddin turns 18.

Last week Mohammed, 45, was seen boxing his son’s ear when the jet-lagged boy wanted some rest after his international travel. He said he was proud of what his son has achieved but that he needs the money now, and not later. Mohammed has tuberculosis and makes less than £40 a month gathering wood. About the new house that has been promised to them, Mohammed remarked, “It hasn’t happened. I’m still in the slum.” While Mohammed cribbed about the money Azharuddin returned to school for the annual prize day.

Slumdog Millionaire producer, Christian Colson said that they have not given out the entire money to the child stars yet because they wanted to protect them from vested interests and gangsters and that they are “monitoring their progress.”

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