Home of 'Slumdog' child star spared

From Harmeet Shah Singh
CNN
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) - Indian authorities cleared part of an "illegally-built" slum where "Slumdog Millionaire" child star Rubina Ali lives, but her shanty was safe so far, police said Wednesday.

Approximately 18 shacks in the slum were demolished because they were illegally built, police said. The area, called Garib Nagar, or colony of poor, belongs to railway authorities that carried out the demolition, said senior area inspector Rahim Sheikh.

Rubina's home was spared because it was in a different part of the neighborhood, police said.

Last week, the home of another child star in the Oscar-winning film was demolished. The shanty of Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail's family was among 20 destroyed because of illegal construction, authorities said.

Though the movie they starred in grossed millions, most of the child stars returned to their poor neighborhoods in Mumbai.

"Slumdog Millionaire" is the story of Jamal, an impoverished, uneducated teen who competes on an Indian game show. The movie won eight Oscars in February, including one for Best Picture.