Slumdog child's father dies

Slumdog Millionaire actor Azharuddin's father, Mohammed Ismail, died in Mumbai after a long battle with tuberculosis.

Ismail was suffering from the disease for over an year, sources close to the family said. He passed away on Friday in the new flat bought for the family by the Jai Ho trust set up by Slumdog director Danny Boyle. Azhar, 10, was reportedly at school at the time and did not learn of the death until he returned home in the evening.

Ismail had caused a furore when he allegedly slapped Azhar for refusing to give media interviews after his return from Los Angeles early this year.

Azhar, who played young Salim in Boyle's potboiler, had attended the Academy Awards ceremony along with rest of the cast in LA, where the film picked up 10 trophies.

His family had shifted to a flat provided by the Jai Ho Trust a couple of months ago, after civic authorities demolished their shanty in Garib Nagar slums in Bandra, in the Western suburb of Mumbai, earlier this year.

The new apartment will be transferred into Azhar's name when he turns 18. They share the flat with Azhar's elder brother and his wife.