MUMBAI, India (CNN) -- 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 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 way.



CNN: Do you think the film is an accurate portrayal of Mumbai?



Anil Kapoor: It's a fairytale -- the story is basically a love story, but shot in a very realistic way and it is very authentic. If there is a traffic jam, he [Danny Boyle] has not created a traffic jam, he has actually shot the traffic jam. If he has gone into the slums it is not choreographed at all. The film is very natural -- whatever you see in "Slumdog" is very real -- nothing is exaggerated and nothing is downplayed.



Watch Anil Kapoor take CNN on a tour of Mumbai. »



CNN: Is the portrayal of the slums realistic?



Anil Kapoor: It is -- you'll see from the way "Slumdog Millionaire" has been shot, it's not portraying misery. You see there is a lot of hope in the kids, a lot of fun and a lot of innocence. There's not a single portion where you feel it has been sensationalized. There is nowhere in the film where you feel they are trying to show misery or poverty.



Mumbai is growing and it's a commercial city and you can see that things are changing. These are the realities and we have to face it. We are confident enough to face it, we are not ashamed.



CNN: What reaction have you had from family and friends?



Anil Kapoor: People are very proud of this film. Generally, the public is happy, the whole country is very happy. It's an Indian story with Indian content and it's great.



There are a lot of friends from Britain and USA who want to come to Mumbai, after seeing this film. I happened to talk to Tom Cruise at the Golden Globes and he is very keen to come to Mumbai and visit India.



CNN: How have the terror attacks affected the city?



Anil Kapoor: The whole country was stunned. Mumbai was coming to
In what movie did Anil Kapoor play quiz show host Kumar? Which actor played the quiz show host in Slumdog Millionaire? What movie did Anil Kapoor play a quiz show host? Who went from rags to riches? Who said that "Slumdog Millionaire" is a real story? Who played Kumar? Who lives in Mumbai? In what city does Anil Kapoor live? Where does Kapoor live? Who said slumdog is real? What is exaggerated or downplayed in the film? Kapoor says what about Slumdog Millionaire? What was Kapoor's role in Slumdog Millionare? Where does Anil Kapoor live? Who says that Slumdog is like his story? Who played the quiz show host?
"Slumdog Millionaire." Anil Kapoor "Slumdog Millionaire." Anil Kapoor: Anil Kapoor: Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor Anil Kapoor Mumbai, Mumbai, Anil Kapoor nothing "Slumdog creepy quiz show host Prem Kumar Mumbai, Anil Kapoor: Anil Kapoor
question: In what movie did Anil Kapoor play quiz show host Kumar?, answer: "Slumdog Millionaire." | question: Which actor played the quiz show host in Slumdog Millionaire?, answer: Anil Kapoor | question: What movie did Anil Kapoor play a quiz show host?, answer: "Slumdog Millionaire." | question: Who went from rags to riches?, answer: Anil Kapoor: | question: Who said that "Slumdog Millionaire" is a real story?, answer: Anil Kapoor: | question: Who played Kumar?, answer: Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor | question: Who lives in Mumbai?, answer: Anil Kapoor | question: In what city does Anil Kapoor live?, answer: Mumbai, | question: Where does Kapoor live?, answer: Mumbai, | question: Who said slumdog is real?, answer: Anil Kapoor | question: What is exaggerated or downplayed in the film?, answer: nothing | question: Kapoor says what about Slumdog Millionaire?, answer: "Slumdog | question: What was Kapoor's role in Slumdog Millionare?, answer: creepy quiz show host Prem Kumar | question: Where does Anil Kapoor live?, answer: Mumbai, | question: Who says that Slumdog is like his story?, answer: Anil Kapoor: | question: Who played the quiz show host?, answer: Anil Kapoor