Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, the main leads in Slumdog Millionaire, made the PR rounds promoting their film on The Late Show with David Letterman and the Today Show. Dev chatted with Dave Letterman with Freida making a brief cameo. On the Today Show, the pair were interviewed by Meredith Vieira. Incidentally, Meredith is host of the syndicated version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Watch Slumdog Millionaire if you can find it at a theatre near you. It’s got a lot of Oscar buzz around it.

Dev Patel interviewed on The Late Show with David Letterman

Dev Patel and Freida Pinto on the Today Show promoting Slumdog Millionaire

More about Dev Patel

He’s just 18, born and bred in London, and starring in the highly acclaimed “Slumdog Millionaire.” So how did he get here? How did he get into show business? It must have been a lifelong dream and climb to star in a motion picture at the age of 18. Uhhh, no.

When Dev was 16, his mom saw a small ad in a newspaper for an open audition for a new teen drama and signed him up. Dev had shown no interest in such a thing. Knowing her son would want no part of it, his mom kept the audition a secret from him. On the morning of the audition, she sprung it on him. Dev was more interested in his science test that day than auditioning from some TV show. His mother dragged him there kicking and screaming. And the audition was like what you see on “American Idol.” Hundreds of drama students were in line doing their voice warm-ups and acting very actor-like. He did his audition, reciting a few lines, and noticed the panel of producers were smiling. He took this as a good sign. And he got the job. Take that, drama students! The show was called, “Skins,” and in no time Dev found himself running around naked on the set. Hmmmm, makes me wonder where his mom found this ad. He watched that episode on TV with his sister and she has never looked at him the same way again. In fact, he says she hasn’t looked at him at all.

His new film, “Slumdog Millionaire,” is about a penniless homeless orphan in Mumbai who happens to become a contestant on India’s version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” He is one question away from winning $20 million when the show breaks for the night. He is then arrested for suspicion of cheating since nobody believes this homeless street kid could possibly know so much. And there is a love angle in the story, too. Not sure if he has to run around naked.

This small film is getting a lot of good noise from those who’ve seen it. It’s now playing in select cities.