Slumdog Millionaire star cops a beating from his dad

AZHARUDDIN Ismail shot to fame in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, but the 10-year-old has gone home to a beating from his dad.

Asharuddin, who played one of the slum children in the movie, won the hearts of millions of movie goers around the world.

But the Hollywood hype doesn't cut it with the boy's dad Ismail Usnay, 45, who slapped him across the ears for apparent disobedience.

The child actor returned home to Mumbai on Friday after his fairytale triumph at Monday's Academy Awards, where he walked the stayed in five-star hotels, wore designer clothes, trod the red carpet and stood on the Oscars stage.

He was exhausted by the long flight and frantic welcome home, taking the day off school to recover at ramshackle tent that serves as his family home in the Dharavi slum.

But according to reports from Mumbai, the boy refused to step outside his home to speak to journalists and his father lost it.

The boy's mother desperately tried to stop the beating, which lasted for about 30 seconds.

"His father went mad," one witness said.

"He wanted to show his son off to journalists and local people, but Azharuddin said he wanted to be left alone because he was tired."

It was an ironic scene, since Slumdog Millionaire highlights the brutality endured by many children who live in India's slums.

The father, who is infected with TB, later apologised for striking his son in front of neighbours and passers-by.

"I was very sorry that I did what I did," he said.

"I was so confused and stressed by my son's homecoming that I did not know myself for a minute. I love my boy and I am very happy to have him home.''

not sure if its true...but anyways what a terrible thing to do..