Slumdog kids to walk Oscar red carpet

Last updated 15:19 02/03/2009

Reuters

BIG DAY: Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali will walk the red carpet at the Oscar Awards.

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The Slumdog Millionaire child actors from the slums of Mumbai will be joining hundreds of movie stars on the red carpet at Sunday's Oscar ceremony in Hollywood, the studio behind the film said.

Fox Searchlight said it was paying the bill for visas, travel and accommodations for nine children to fly to Los Angeles for the Oscars, where the rags-to-riches story is favorite for a best picture Oscar.

The studio said the children, who play the younger and teen versions of the characters portrayed by adults Dev Patel, Freida Pinto and Madhur Mittal, will appear on the red carpet and attend the February 22 awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre.

The film makers were accused last month of exploiting the children.

British director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson have rejected the charge, saying the children were paid above local Indian wages for their work and that the film's makers were also paying for their education.

Slumdog Millionaire is nominated for 10 Oscars - the industry's highest honours - including best picture and best director.

It already has won at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the British Bafta awards.

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- Reuters