big stars . In my childhood I was surrounded by films , actors , film makers , directors and film talk . I would bunk school to watch movies , old English films and Hindi films -- that 's how I spent my childhood . And playing cricket ! CNN : Mumbai is the home of Bollywood movies -- was that an influence ? Anil Kapoor : The influence of the film industry is tremendous over here . Every kid dreams of becoming either an actor or a cricketer . In India , we love film and everybody wants to get into films . `` It 's in our bloodstream -- film making , songs , music , everything connected with cinema -- people just love it . `` It 's the cheapest form of entertainment and recession or no recession , people just flock to the theaters to watch our movies . '' CNN : Tell me about `` Slumdog Millionaire . '' Anil Kapoor : Slumdog is like my story . I also started from scratch , went from rags to riches . I started in Chembur and I slowly climbed -- God has been kind in that
MUMBAI , India -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor has been catapulted into the global spotlight for his award-winning performance as creepy quiz show host Prem Kumar in the smash hit movie '' Slumdog Millionaire . '' Anil Kapoor : `` Slumdog Millionaire is like my story . '' Kapoor talks to CNN 's `` My City , My Life '' about `` Slumdog '' , his hometown of Mumbai , his own rags to riches rise to stardom and how the recent terror attacks affected the city . CNN : - Did you grow up in Mumbai ? Anil Kapoor : I was born in Mumbai , in a suburb named Chembur . In my neighborhood the kids never wore shoes , we always had bare feet . I remember my parents asking me to wear shoes to go and play , but usually I would forget . Usually kids say they want to be doctors or engineers , pilots or businessmen , but I just wanted to be an actor . My father was an assistant director for an Indian film maker and then from being an assistant he became a secretary to one of the