Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 15: Veteran actor Anil Kapoor revealed that he continues to receive payments from the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire nearly two decades after its release.

Speaking during a session titled The Ageless Revel: Rewriting the Rules of Stardom at the India Today Conclave 2026, Kapoor said he had recently received another cheque from the film’s earnings.

“I must share this with you. It’s a very emotional moment. It’s been more than a decade and a half, and yesterday again I got a pay cheque for Slumdog Millionaire,” he said.

When asked about the amount, the actor said the latest payment was £3,000. “I pay all my taxes so I can say this. I am going to get almost half a million pounds. So I am a millionaire. I didn’t ask for it. They gave it themselves,” he added.

Kapoor also explained that his decision to join the film directed by Danny Boyle was driven by a desire to learn and grow as an actor.

“I did that movie to educate myself. I want to learn, and that’s how I stay relevant,” he said.

The 69-year-old actor revealed that the filmmakers had initially told him they could not afford his fee, after which he offered to act in the film without payment.

Released in 2008, Slumdog Millionaire is a loose adaptation of the novel Q & A written by Vikas Swarup. The story follows Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel, a young man from the slums of Mumbai who participates in the quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Kapoor’s character Prem Kumar.

The film also featured Freida Pinto as Latika, Jamal’s love interest, while Irrfan Khan played a police officer who interrogates Jamal about how he managed to answer all the questions correctly.

The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 2009 and won eight, including Best Director and Best Picture.

Kapoor was most recently seen in the action drama Subedaar, which premiered on Prime Video on March 5. Directed by Suresh Triveni, the film also stars Radhikka Madan, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik and Mona Singh.

He will next appear in Alpha directed by Shiv Rawail, alongside Alia Bhatt, Sharvari and Bobby Deol.

The film is currently scheduled for release on July 10 after being postponed from its earlier release date of April 17 to avoid a box office clash with Battle of Galwan starring Salman Khan.