Danny on Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle's much talked-about Mumbai-based film Slumdog Millionaire was a favourite at the Toronto film festival being held currently. In fact it's the best-received Mumbai film since Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay.

Says the film's director Danny Boyle, "It's an amazing experience here. This is actually the first full-fledged public screening of the film. We did a few test screenings earlier with a British audience and then we also tested it before a Hindi-speaking audience. But other than that, this screening here in Toronto is the first time the film has been shown to a North American audience. And they reacted wonderfully."

Adds the film's leading lady Frieda Minto, "It's all new for me. Slumdog Millionaire is my first film. And clearly the stars of the show are director Danny Boyle and the male lead Dev Patel. But I'm also getting my share of notice here. Doing it I never realized it'd go so far."

Frieda had almost missed out on the Toronto visit because of visa problems. "Luckily it was all sorted in time. It's a hectic time for me here in Toronto. So many press conferences and media events. And the film is getting immense appreciation. It's all a new experience for me."