Hrithik and Priyanka were considered the Filmstars

Filmstars Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra were adjudged Best Actor and Best Actress for their roles in Jodha Akbar and Fashion respectively at the 54^th Filmfare awards in Mumbai.

The award ceremony, held at the Yashraj Studios in Suburban Mumbai on Saturday night, was hosted by actors Ranbi Kapoor and Imran Khan.

Jodha Akbar bagged five awards including Best Film, Best Director (Ashutosh Gowariker) and Best Lyrics (Javed Akhtar).

Fresh from his Oscar win last week, AR Rahman got the Best Music Director award for Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Best Background Score for Jodha Akbar.

Critics award for the Best Film was given to Mumbai Meri Jaan.

Asin Thottumkal was adjudged Best Female Debutane for Ghajini and the Best Male Debutane award was shared by Farhan Aktar (Rock On) and Imran Khan (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na).

Sukhwinder Singh received the Best Male Playback Singer award for Haule Haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi) while Shreya Ghosal got the Best Female Playback Singer award for Teri Ore (Singh is King).

Best Supporting Actress Award was given to Kangana Ranaut (Fashion) while Arjun Rampal won the Best Supporting Actor (Rock On).

Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Om Puri and designer Bhanu Athaiya, who had won the Oscar for Best Costume Designer for Gandhi in 1982.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, recovering from a shoulder surgery, made an appearance at the award function with his left arm in a sling.

Khan interacted with child actors of Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire.

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Heroes’ welcome for Slumdog stars

Huge crowds gave the child stars of Slumdog Millionaire a rousing heroes’ welcome as they returned to Mumbai from LA after the film’s Oscar glory.

The young actors were greeted with garlands and held aloft by the crowds as they stepped out of Mumbai airport.

Composer AR Rahman, who won two Oscars, received a similar welcome as he arrived in his home city of Chennai.

The film, a rags-to-riches story about the winner of game show Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, won eight Oscars.

The children were flown to Los Angeles for last weekend’s 81st annual Academy Awards.

Two of them, Azharuddin Ismail (who plays the youngest Salim) and Rubina Ali (who plays the youngest Latika) still live in the slums in western Mumbai.

‘World famous’

The crowds sang Jai Ho – Mr Rahman’s theme tune for the film – as the stars arrived home.

Hundreds of friends, fans and relatives jostled to catch a glimpse of them as dozens of police tried to keep control.

The children came out of the airport with their arms around each other and waved at the frenzied crowds before getting into Mercedes cars for the journey home.

Rubina Ali, nine, clutched a small fluffy brown rabbit toy.

“This is the proudest moment of our lives. I cannot believe my daughter has become world famous,” her father, Rafiq Asghar Ali Quereshi, said.

Her mother said she had prepared her daughter’s favourite chicken biryani dish to celebrate her return.

The commotion continued as Azharuddin Ismail and Rubina Ali returned to their slum neighbourhoods, the BBC’s Prachi Pinglay reports.

One of the huts was damaged as crowds crammed into the slums and Azharuddin had to be taken to a relative’s house for safety.

But neighbours were in awe and proud of the children’s achievements, our reporter says.

One man, Aftaab, told her: “See how destiny changes overnight! One day the family was in such bad condition that daily life was a struggle, today the whole world is watching them.”

There was an outcry when it emerged that Rubina still lives with her family in a one-room shack while 10-year-old Azharuddin’s family home, located under a tarpaulin by a busy road, was recently demolished.

The film makers have strongly denied charges of exploitation, saying the children were paid above local wages, funds have been set up to pay for their education and they have been enrolled in school for the first time.

The Indian state authorities have also said they will provide the families with free housing, saying the children have “brought laurels to the country”.

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Slumdog children to be rehoused

Azharuddin who played the young Salim, pictured at his old home

Two child actors from the film Slumdog Millionaire will be moved from slums to new houses by Indian authorities.

Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, who played young versions of two main characters, were discovered by casting agents in Mumbai’s Garib Nagar slum.

There was an outcry when it was found they were still living there after the success of the Oscar-winning film.

An official said the children had “brought laurels to the country” and deserved to be rewarded.

Local housing association chairman Amarjeet Singh Manhas added: “Since the children have made the nation proud, they must be given free houses.

“The chief minister of the state has approved this.”

Both children were flown to Los Angeles to attend the Oscars

The housing will come from a small allocation which local politicians are allowed to distribute as they see fit.

Rubina, nine, is currently living with her family in a one room shack while 10-year-old Azharuddin’s family home, located under a tarpaulin by a busy road, was recently demolished.

Permanent roof

The boy’s father, Mohammed, who suffers from tuberculosis, told The Times of India: “We have barely got any money from the film-makers. In fact, whatever came, has already been spent.

“This decision is a piece of good news for us.”

Rubina’s father Rafiq Qureshi also told the newspaper: “Our house was demolished a couple of times by the authorities, the last time being three months ago.

“We are happy that we will have a permanent roof over our head.”

Gautam Chatterjee, vice president of the Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority, confirmed making the recommendation to the state authorities.

But he told the BBC he could not say how long it would take to process.

The two children were paid above local wages for 30 days of work on the film and director Danny Boyle has strongly denied charges of exploitation.

Funds have been set up to pay for their education and they have been enrolled in school for the first time.

The film-makers also promised to provide bricks and mortar housing for the two families before authorities stepped in with their offer.

Critics called the housing gift a political move ahead of a general election, Indian media reported.

Around half of Mumbai’s population live in slums and authorities in the state of Maharashtra have long been under pressure to improve conditions there.

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The Oscars 2009

Hit British film Slumdog Millionaire has won the top prize at the Academy Awards, winning eight Oscars including best director and best picture.

In a great night for Britain, Kate Winslet won the best actress Oscar for The Reader, finally clinching the award on her sixth nomination.

The big surprise of the night was Sean Penn, winning best actor for his role as gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for supporting actor for The Dark Knight.

The actor’s family received the award on behalf of Ledger, who died in January 2008.

“We have been truly overwhelmed by the honour and respect being bestowed upon him with this award,” his mother said.

Heath Ledger won acclaim for scene-stealing performance as The Joker

Ledger becomes only the second performer to win a posthumous Oscar, following Peter Finch’s win for Network in 1977.

But the night belonged to Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches tale that has enchanted audiences around the world.

Director Danny Boyle, 52, bounced up and down in delight as he received his award, telling the audience: “I swore [to my children] if this miracle ever happened I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger.”

Optimism

The film, set in the slums of Mumbai (Bombay), won eight awards in total, including gongs for best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, best original score and best song.

“There are certain places in the universe you never imagine standing. For me, it’s the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium and here,” joked British screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, previously best known for writing The Full Monty.

Indian composer AR Rahman, who received two Oscars – for best song and best score – praised the city which inspired the book, and subsequently the film.

He hailed “all the people from Mumbai and the essence of the film, which is about optimism and the power of hope and our lives”.

“We had passion and we had belief and if you have those two things, truly, anything is possible,” said Christian Colson.

As anticipated – after years of waiting in the wings – Winslet, 33, won her Academy Award for playing a Nazi prison officer in The Reader.

“I’d be lying if I hadn’t made a version of this speech. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror,” she said.

“I feel very fortunate to have made it all the way from there to here.”

In a night of predictable outcomes, Sean Penn’s best actor triumph for his portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk seemed to win the A-list audience’s approval.

AWARDS TALLY Slumdog Millionaire – 8 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – 3 Milk – 2 The Dark Knight – 2

“You Commie, homo-loving, sons of a gun,” said Penn, addressing his fellow performers.

“I did not expect this, and I want to be very clear that I know how hard I make it to appreciate me,” said the 48-year-old, who often attracts criticism for his outspoken views.

In an impassioned plea – and to rapturous applause – Penn called on “equal rights for everyone”.

“I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame,” he said.

His thoughts were echoed by Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won best original screenplay for Milk.

“I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope … that one day I could live my life openly as who I am. And that maybe I could even fall in love and one day get married,” he said.

Musical medley

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie both went home empty-handed, while The Curious Case of Benjamin Button converted just three of its 13 nominations – all in the technical fields.

Sean Penn was named best actor for his role in Mystic River in 2004

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were eager to breathe new life into this year’s ceremony, after a continued decline in TV viewing figures.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman hosted the show, and showed off his musical talents – opening with a medley of songs paying tribute to the best picture nominees.

He went on to join singer Beyonce in a tribute to Hollywood’s best-loved musicals.

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz became the first winner of the night, picking up the best supporting actress award.

The 34-year-old star won her first Oscar for her performance as a passionate artist in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

“Has anybody ever fainted here. I might be the first one,” said Cruz, who was previously nominated in 2007.

Cruz, who becomes the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar, dedicated her award “to all the actors from my country”.

Cruz faced some stiff competition from Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler

“Thank you Woody for trusting me with this beautiful character,” she said.

Comedian Jerry Lewis received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which recognises humanitarian efforts.

“This award touches my heart and the very depth of my soul because of who the award is from, and those it will benefit,” said 82-year-old star.

The Nutty Professor star has raised over $2 billion (£1.3bn) for the Muscular Dystrophy Association through his annual Labor Day telethon.

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