Slumdog Millionaire’s young stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto continue to give really sweet interviews in the lead up to this Sunday’s Oscars. Yesterday, People posted a little story about “the five things you don’t know about the stars of Slumdog Millionaire”. Some of it was old news – Freida Pinto used to have a crush on Leonardo DiCaprio, for instance, but a couple of the stories were really cute.

They’re asked about their crushes, and Freida (who is newly single), names Leonardo again. Then Dev gets a chance to answer, and he names Eva Mendes and Rosario Dawson. Dev loves darker women, can you tell? I bet he totally has a crush on Freida. After that, they tell the story of how they got to meet Angelina Jolie, and who they’ll be taking as their Oscar dates:

Different first impressions
“She’s absolutely stunning,” Patel thought when he first met his costar. But now he can dish about the real Freida (whom he calls a “wicked buddy”): “She’s super funny. In [public] she’s very gracious. But she’s quite the goof, she can poke fun at herself. And if someone dishes something out to her, she can give as good as she gets. She’s not shy.”

And Patel? “When I met him for the first time I was like, ‘Oh, my god, he’s a kid!’ ” Pinto recalls. “But I realized during the shooting of the film that as much as this boy is really funny and goofy, there’s this really mature, sensitive side to him as well.”

They have an Angelina connection
Irrfan Khan, the Indian megastar who plays the police inspector investigating Jamal’s game show success, costarred with Jolie in A Mighty Heart. Patel used the connection on a red carpet. “I was like, ‘Irrfan, make a beeline for Angelina! Tell her I want to say hi!’ And he did,” says Patel. “I didn’t say much. I was just more looking in awe at Angelina Jolie … I think she said ‘great film’ or something like that. It was a blur.”

They still haven’t chosen Oscar dates
Patel will probably take “my mum [Anita, an elder care worker]. She’s my good luck charm.” Pinto (who, like Patel, is single) is still deciding. “My mother [Sylvia, a school principal] can’t really take a break because it’s during board examinations.” Pinto may not know who will escort her, but she’s already prepping for the red-carpet walk. “I’m clumsy, so that’s when I have to breathe, control, and just walk as straight as possible.”

From People Magazine

Freida also gave a recent interview to Hello! Magazine. Somebody gave this girl the standard-issue talking points! She says that she doesn’t want to be known as “just a pretty face”. You aren’t Freida – you’re known as a “stunning beautiful face”, but nevermind. Freida also talks more about what the journey of Slumdog has meant to her. The Daily Telegraph has more (from the Hello! interview originally):

The 24-year-old former model had never acted on the big screen before she was cast in Danny Boyle’s rags-to-riches tale. Now she is the toast of Hollywood, but she is determined not to be typecast on account of her looks.

“I don’t want to be known as just a pretty face. I loved Charlize Theron in Monster. I want to play parts that are challenging and inspiring,” she told Hello! magazine.

“Slumdog is about destiny, and my personal journey through this film has made me realise the power of destiny. Planning doesn’t hurt, but it’s wonderful to know that sometimes life has bigger plans for you than you had for yourself.”

Pinto grew up in Mumbai and said of Slumdog Millionaire: “I cried the first time I watched it. It’s a very grounded film. I can honestly say it communicates the pulse of this vibrant city. Danny has done away with the clichés and shows India developing at a rapid pace. The way Mumbai doesn’t try to hide its highs or its lows is a vital part of its character. The poor and rich live among each other, and its slums are as much part of it as the beautiful structures that adorn it.”

From The Daily Telegraph

She seems like a real sweetheart, but it makes me uncomfortable thinking about the difficulties she’s going to have attempting a Hollywood career, not because of her stunning beauty, but because she’s an Indian actress with a strong accent. There should be more parts for her, but I fear there won’t be. But instead getting all morose about it, let’s imagine the newly-single Freida with the newly single Colin Farrell. Hot, right?

Dev Patel and Freida Pinto are shown at the BAFTA Awards on 2/8/09. Credit: WENN

Indian-born Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, 24, has given the boot to her long-term boyfriend Rohan Antao. The two met at St Xavier’s College in Mumbai, where Antao was studying chemistry. Pinto studied English literature in college, then began modeling in India. Slumdog is Pinto’s first film. Antao was very supportive of her career, even helping Pinto organize her website, publicity and her appearances for her work. They were together for four years.

People are starting to make a big deal about her relationship/friendship with 18-year-old British-Indian actor Dev Patel, Pinto’s co-star in Slumdog, but I have my doubts. If anything, I think Dev has a little unrequited crush on the beautiful Pinto, but she’s most likely too mature to date an 18-year-old kid, albeit one as adorable as Dev. The Mirror has more:

Ouch! As her acting career takes off beautiful Freida Pinto gives devastated boyfriend of four years the boot.

Just a year ago, Freida Pinto was a relatively unknown model living in a modest Mumbai suburb, engaged to a man she’d met at university. Next Sunday, Freida will be centre stage at the Oscars. And single. It’s been quite a year for the beautiful star of hit film Slumdog Millionaire.

[When] Slumdog, which swept the Golden Globes and the Baftas and is nominated for 10 Oscars, took off at the end of last year, Freida dumped Rohan Antao – the man who had supported her career every step of the way.

Rohan, 24, was devastated, and still remains convinced she will come back.

They met four years ago at St Xavier’s University in Mumbai. Freida, who plays Latika in the Oscar-nominated movie, was studying English literature and he was reading chemistry. They soon became inseparable. A university pal said: “They were really into each other. Rohan would do anything for Freida. They were best pals as well as lovers.”

After they graduated, he helped to develop her website, did publicity and marketing for her, and fixed her dresses before fashion shoots. But the pal who lives in Mumbai said: “Freida called off the engagement after the film took off. She could never have imagined how rapidly her career would grow and it’s all been overwhelming. Since the release of the film, she’s hardly been in Mumbai and even when she is, she’s too busy working.”

“Whether it’s permanent or temporary she’s not sure, but for now they are not together. But Rohan took it very badly. He is still cut up about it now and hoping they will get back together. He has still not changed his relationship status on Facebook – it still says he is engaged. But no one else believes she will come back now. She is off pursuing her dreams.”

[Pinto] had never done a day’s acting until Slumdog director Danny Boyle’s casting agent arrived in Mumbai in 2007. Danny put Freida through months of exhausting audition tasks before offering her the job and she signed up for acting lessons at Mumbai’s Barry John acting studio.

Rumours have persisted that Freida and her 18-year-old British co-star Dev Patel, who plays the orphan Jamal in the movie, are more than just friends.

Talking to the Sunday Mirror before the Baftas, Dev admitted he fancies her – but denied an affair. He said: “She is very beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. Everyone’s agreed on that. But there’s no romance, no.”

However, last week they were seen leaving a London nightclub together at 3.30am. And now she is a single girl, who knows what might happen…

From The Sunday Mirror

It just seems like she outgrew the relationship, or that they had been separated for a while, and just grew apart. I am having fun doing imaginary match-making for Freida with some big movie stars, though. How cute would she be with Gerard Butler? Or Colin Farrell?

I wonder if Freida has dreams of moving to London or Los Angeles and really jump-starting a career in Hollywood films. Even though she’s insanely beautiful and talented, I worry that there won’t be enough roles for her to make moving worth her while. She might be headed back to Mumbai some time soon – and maybe she’ll reconnect with Rohan Antao then.

Freida Pinto is shown opening Liberty’s store in London on 2/14/09 and at the Elle Style Awards on 2/9/09. Credit: WENN

The young stars of Slumdog Millionaire are enjoying their moment in the sun. Indian beauty Freida Pinto and British-Indian Dev Patel have admitted to being totally star-struck as they attend awards ceremony after awards ceremony. So far they’ve met Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and, of all people, Danny DeVito. Dev Patel is kind of bummed he hasn’t met Will Smith though. The young star have even received advice from their acting heroes. OK! Magazine has the details:

Slumdog Millionaire may be the “it” movie of the year, but for it’s stars Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, the whole fame thing is still pretty new.

In an interview with Extra, the young actors reveal everything from what it was like meeting their childhood crushes to getting career advice from Angelina Jolie!

“I didnt’ say much. I was just like staring in awe for a bit,” says Pinto. “She was really wonderful to talk to and very supportive of newcomers. She was just like, ‘Embrace it. Enjoy it and keep it real. Don’t get affected by all this. Enjoy every moment.’”

Pinto also met her childhood crush, Leonardo DiCaprio, telling Extra, “[I] fantasized about him. Had a crush on him. Ever since Titanic,” she says. “This is really embarrassing. I had a scrapbook with everything Leonardo in it. He’s a really nice person. The crush is gone but the admiration is still there.”

The young actress says she made a new friend in DiCaprio’s Revolutionary Road co-star Kate Winslet, saying, “I found this newfound support in her. Every time I have a question, she’s always there to answer it.”

As for Pinto’s co-star, Dev Patel, the actor says he’d like to work with Will Smith in the future – and even put out a personal message to the Hancock star.

“Hello, Mr. Smith. Please let me do a film with you,” Patel says. “I stumbled upon your premiere of Hancock in London and I waited three hours. I was dying to go to the toilet and I’ve got a picture of you on my phone. It’d be great. Just a small role. Shake your hand or something. Thank you.”

Still getting used to his new found fame, Patel says, “I went up to Danny DeVito. We were at the Producers Guild Awards. I said, ‘Hi, Mr. DeVito.’ And he said, ‘Oh, hey. How are you doing?’. He made us sign something for his family. I was like, ‘Shouldn’t I be getting an autograph from YOU?’”

From OK! Magazine

As much as Danny DeVito’s crazy, I think it’s both sweet and appropriate that he’s asking the Slumdog stars for their autographs. It’s weird that Dev Patel’s big wish is to meet Will Smith, right? If I was a young actor, starting out in a huge film that’s about to win the Oscar for Best Picture, who would I want to meet? Meryl Streep, probably. Clive Owen, definitely. And I would probably try to talk my way into Gerard Butler’s pants. But that’s another story.

Angelina’s advice is little too cookie-cutter, isn’t it? “Keep it real”? Is that the best you can come up, Angie? But I bet it sounds profound when you’re a young star facing the biggest media blitz ever. And I really like how unapologetic Pinto is about her “former” crush on Leonardo DiCaprio. I love Leo and all, but I imagine he disappoints in person.

The cast and crew of Slumdog are shown at the SAG Awards on 1/25/09, at the Producers Guild Awards on 1/24, a photocall on 1/21, Film Critics Association dinner on 1/12, the Golden Globes on 1/11, and a BAFTA party on 1/9. Credit: WENN