Teens protest outside actor’s office, want title changed

Even as the country was elated at the news of Slumdog Millionaire being nominated for 10 Oscar awards, a group of slum dwellers, with roses and a stray dog for company, gathered outside actor Anil Kapoor’s Juhu office. They wanted the film title to be changed, reports Shahkar Abidi.

Even as the country was elated at the news of Slumdog Millionaire being nominated for 10 Oscar awards, a group of slum dwellers, with roses and a stray dog for company, gathered outside actor Anil Kapoor’s Juhu office on Thursday. They wanted the film title to be changed.

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The group of 15-20 protestors — mostly teenagers — argued that the term ‘Slumdog’ which in Hindi means hutment dog, is derogatory.

“It’s an insult to all the Indians, including Anil uncle,” said Santosh Ojha (13), who works at a sofa-making shop. “It’s an insult to our poverty,” said Vikas Nathu, another slumdweller.

“We just want Kapoor to take up the matter with the film producer and director or we will be forced to take a legal action,” said social activist Nicholas Almedia, who led the protest.

After waiting for over 30 minutes for Kapoor to come out of his office, they were told that he is not there and handed over the rose to his manager, threatening that if the change is not made, they would resort to Gandhigiri.