INDIAN GOVERNMENT GIVE SLUMDOG CHILD STARS NEW HOMES

Boyle and the movie's producers plucked Ismail, 10, and Ali, nine, from impoverished obscurity to appear in the Oscar-winning film and established the Jai Ho Trust last year (08) to help fund their education.

But the kids' plight has captured headlines in recent weeks after both children's families were booted out of their homes and forced to live on the streets of India by local authorities.

They had been homeless for weeks before Boyle flew into Mumbai this week (begs25May09) and revealed he had bought Ismail a brand new apartment, with plans to do the same for Ali.

And now India's chief minister, Congress party member Ashok Chavan, has waded into the controversy - revealing both stars' families have already been alloted new homes which will be ready in days.

A statement from Chavan reads, "The regional head of the Congress party said these two child actors were talented but were living in the slums and therefore should be given homes."

As WENN went to press, it was unknown whether the two families would have to choose between the homes.