NEW DELHI , India ( CNN ) -- `` Slumdog Millionaire '' leaves audiences uplifted . But that is hardly how one of its child stars felt on Thursday . Indian authorities demolished the home of `` Slumdog Millionaire '' child actor Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail . Despite the hit movie 's mega-millions in box-office receipts , Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail 's life changed little after he returned home to Mumbai , India 's , Garib Nagar , or city of the poor . On Thursday , even the roof over the real-life slum dweller 's head was taken away as Indian authorities tore down the shanty where Ismail 's family lived . Authorities said the home and about 20 others around it were illegally built . Senior Inspector Rahim Sheikh told CNN that the shanties were brought down as part of a municipal drive to clear encroachments on public land . Bulldozers leveled the slum built on a municipal garden , said Sheikh , who is in charge of the locality in Mumbai where Ismail lived . The little boy sat among twisted corrugated metal and other debris , surrounded by filth and squalor . Memories of Hollywood 's glitz and glitter were distant as tears streamed down his face . He said his family was given no notice of the demolition and did not have time to remove their belongings . But , they said , they plan to return and rebuild . Watch 'Slumdog ' actor 's home razed . » . `` Slumdog Millionaire '' is the story of Jamal , an impoverished , uneducated teen who competes on an Indian game show . Ismail , who played a young Jamal 's brother , Salim , traveled to Los Angeles , California , in February for this year 's Academy Awards , where the movie won eight Oscars , including best picture . CNN 's Sara Sidner contributed to this story .
Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail 's home is in Garib Nagar , or city of the poor . Indian authorities say the home , 20 others , were illegally built . The government has been accused by human rights groups and local residents who have lived there for decades that they are not properly maintaining their homes.