“They are the reason the film works,” said British director Danny Boyle. He said it wasn’t possible to take these young actors around for international events as they would miss their school. The actors play the role of the film’s three central characters as children and teenagers. Boyle cited shooting with them as one of his key challenges as he was scared they could be hurt while running alongside trains or doing action sequences.

In a run-up to the film’s release in India, the event also brought together Boyle, screenplay writer Simon Beaufoy, producer Christian Colson, actors Freida Pinto, Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Madhur Mittal and co-director Loveleen Tondon. But it was Mumbai that came across as the biggest star at this star-studded event.

Pinto exulted over her Mumbai roots, Beaufoy talked about coming here as a backpacker two decades ago and Boyle spoke about its energy that dares people to dream. “With our release in India, we complete the Holy Trinity after the film’s outing in the US and the UK. We have tried to cram in as much of Mumbai as possible in the film,” Boyle said.

The film is releasing in 81 Indian cities on January 23, both in English and in Hindi — Slumdog Crorepati, with 400 prints.

Boyle is eager to explore the city’s cinematic potential further; this time for a modern thriller.After sweeping the Globe, all eyes are now set on its possible conquests at the Oscar. But the team seems to be savouring each moment now without worrying about the upcoming Academy Awards. “We can’t expect such things right now,” said Boyle.

On Amitabh Bachchan’s controversial blog about the film, Boyle said one should be ready to accept criticism. The director, who hasn’t ever met the Indian superstar, said he would “love to meet Bachchan”.

“The film has benefited by the superstar’s presence,” he said. There are clippings from landmark Bachchan movies in Slumdog Millionaire. It also captures the Bachchan phenomenon as the hero as a child does the impossible to get Bachchan’s autograph.