Heroes' return for Slumdog Millionaire child stars

Slumdog Millionaire child actors (l-r) Ayush Khedakar, Sacher Engineer and Rubina Ali wave upon their arrival in Mumbai from the US Photograph: Pal Pillai/AFP/Getty Images

Ismail, 10, was plucked from Mumbai’s shantytown to appear in the movie, and has become a favourite in his home country in the wake of the success of Danny Boyle’s film adaptation of the rags-to-riches tale Photograph: Gautam Singh/AP

Nine-year-old Rubina Ali, who plays the film’s heroine, Latika, as a child, holds a toy rabbit as hundreds of well-wishers greet the youngsters Photograph: Gautam Singh/AP

Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, eight, who plays the young version of the male lead, Jamal, is hoisted on to someone’s shoulders before the children are whisked away in waiting cars. Days earlier they had been walking the red carpet in Hollywood, revelling in the attention before Slumdog went on to pick up eight Oscars, including the award for best picture Photograph: Pal Pillai/AFP/Getty Images

Ismail is covered in garlands by well-wishers. Yesterday it emerged Ismail and Ali, who currently live in shacks in the Garib Nagar slum in Bandra East, are to be given “free homes” by the state government Photograph: Pal Pillai/AFP/Getty Images

People celebrate with Ismail, who played the young Salim in the film, near his house in a slum area of Mumbai Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters

Ismail rides on the shoulder of a family friend as he waves to neighbours and well-wishers gathered near his home in the Behrampada slums of Mumbai Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images