‘Slumdog’ director surprised to hear about Freida-Dev romance

British filmmaker Danny Boyle says he was surprised to learn his "Slumdog Millionaire" stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto are dating because he didn't notice any sparks between the pair on the movie set.

The two actors met while filming the Oscar-winning picture, but spent months denying rumours of a real-life romance before finally going public with their relationship this summer.

Boyle, who spent months directing the pair, admits he had no idea they would get together, reports contactmusic.com.

"I was a bit surprised at first, but then those things tend to pass me by... I'm delighted for them, they seem to be real soulmates and I'm sure more than that. I'm very happy for them - it seems lovely," he said.

Meanwhile, Danny Boyle has chosen his follow up project to “Slumdog Millionaire”.

According to trade paper Variety on Thursday (Nov 5) , the British millionaire is to direct 127 Hours, a film about Aron Ralston, the American mountaineer who made headlines the world over when he used a knife to sever his own arm after it became trapped under a boulder during a 2003 hike.

No cast has yet been chosen for the project, which would mostly feature just a single actor, Variety said. However, the writing and production team that created Slumdog could reunite for the new movie and production is set to begin next year, the report said.

Ralston became trapped in a remote Utah canyon in May 2003 after going on a hike without informing anyone of his destination. After remaining in place for almost five days he lost hope of anyone finding him and used a dull knife to amputate his lower arm in order to free himself from under the boulder.
He then wrapped a tourniquet around the severed stump and climbed up a 20-metre cliff face before hiking back to his car. He was discovered by a family who alerted authorities.

Indo-Asian News Service