'Slumdog' kids may learn hard way that school pays

The two child stars of "Slumdog Millionaire" are at risk of losing their trust fund and monthly stipend if they don't go to school more often, a trustee for the fund said Thursday.

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 11, and Rubina Ali, 10, shot to fame after starring in the Oscar-winning movie.

But these days, Azhar is only showing up at school 37 percent of the time, and Rubina has only a 27 percent attendance rate, the trustee said.

"It's pathetic," said Noshir Dadrawala, who helps administer the Jai Ho trust established by the filmmakers for the young stars, who grew up in Mumbai's shantytowns.

"They are constantly going to Paris and Cochin and Chennai," he said. "That's fine, but go over the weekend, not at the sacrifice of school."

"Slumdog" producer Christian Colson said cashing in on celebrity is fine. "But if they want to benefit from the trust, they have to get those attendance rates up," he said.

The children's parents said the absences were due to family deaths and other problems and promised to get them to school from now on. AP