'Slumdog' kids Ismail and Rubina gifted flats

Mumbai, Feb 24 (IANS) 'Slumdog Millionaire' child actors Azharuddin Ismail and Rubina Rafiq can now leave the squalor of their slum homes, courtesy the Maharashtra government which Tuesday night announced that both would be given a flat each.

Azharuddin Ismail Shaikh Usman and Rubina Rafiq Asghar Ali Qureshi are residents of Garib Nagar slum in Bandra East, Mumbai. They played the youngest version of the lead characters in the Oscar-winning film and were flown to the US for Hollywood's biggest awards ceremony Sunday.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced gifting the two a flat each from the chief minister's quota.

'Slumdog Millionaire' won eight Oscars at the 81st annual Academy Awards -- almost following the fairytale journey of its hero in the movie.

The Mumbai unit of the Congress party had approached Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Tuesday evening on the matter.

Rubina's father Rafiq is a casual carpenter while Azharuddin's father Ismail trades in old furniture.