"Slumdog" Homecoming

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Ayush Khedekar, center, gets a rousing welcome as he arrives at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. "Slumdog Millionaire," a tale of hope amid adversity and squalor in Mumbai, came away with eight Oscars, including best picture and director for Danny Boyle. The child stars of the film returned to India on Thursday to a chaotic but rousing heroes' welcome.

The child actors of the film "Slumdog Millionaire" from left, Ayush Khedekar, Tanay Hemant Chheda, Tanvi Lonkar, and Rubina Ali Qureshi arrive at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. Hundreds of well-wishers waited for them at the Mumbai airport, where dozens of police, some heavily armed, were needed to escort the children through the cheering crowds.

Children who acted in the film "Slumdog Millionaire" from left, Ayush Khedekar, Tannay, Tanvi Lonkar, and Rubina Ali, arrive at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. With the film's success, the children have become instant celebrities in movie-crazy India, particularly Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, who were plucked from slums to play parts in the film.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, center, gets a rousing welcome as he returns to his home in a slum in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. The Indian government is giving apartments to the families of Ismail and Rubina Ali, the children plucked from the slums of Mumbai to play the youngest versions of Latika and Salim in the film.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Tanay Hemant Chheda is welcomed back as he arrives at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Ayush Khedekar, center, gets a rousing welcome as he arrives at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. "Slumdog Millionaire," a tale of hope amid adversity and squalor in Mumbai, came away with eight Oscars, including best picture and director for Danny Boyle.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, center, along with his father Mohammed Ismail, right, and his mother Shamim Begum waves as he journeys home after arriving at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Rubina Ali gets a rousing welcome as she arrives at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. "Slumdog Millionaire," a tale of hope amid adversity and squalor in Mumbai, came away with eight Oscars, including best picture and director for Danny Boyle.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Ayush Khedekar shakes hands as he leaves with mother Sayali Khedekar from the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, center, gets a rousing welcome as he returns to his home in a slum in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, reacts as he is lifted up by his father Mohammed Ismail as he arrives at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.

Indian music composer A.R. Rahman poses for photographs at a press conference back home after receiving two Oscars, for best original sound track and best original song, both for the movie "Slumdog Millionaire," at Chennai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.

Oscar award winner Resul Pookutty shows the Oscar statuette as he holds an unidentified child after he arrived at the international airport in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. Pookutty won an Oscar for Best Sound Mixing for the film "Slumdog Millionaire", one of eight Oscars the film won.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Rubina Ali, 9, is welcomed back on her return to her home at a slum in Bandra, in suburban Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. The Indian government is giving apartments to the families of Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, the children plucked from the slums of Mumbai to play the youngest versions of Latika and Salim in the film.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Rubina Ali, 9, center, reacts as her father Rafiq Asghar Ali Quereshi hugs her in her uncle's home as unidentified relatives look on at a slum in Bandra, in suburban Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.

"Slumdog Millionaire" child actor Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, center, dances to a song from "Slumdog Millionaire" with his friends at a slum in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009. The Indian government is giving apartments to the families of Ismail and Rubina Ali, the children plucked from the slums of Mumbai to play the youngest versions of Latika and Salim in the film.

"Slumdog Millionaire" actor Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, center, is interviewed by journalists as his father Mohammed Ismail, left, and mother Shamim Begum, second left, look on in their home at a slum in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.