Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor wants to find out the truth behind reports that his "Slumdog Millionaire" young co-star Rubina Ali's father tried to sell her.

Anil is in Hollywood, where he's being honoured at the seventh annual Indian Film Festival, and he admits he has lost contact with the kids in the hit film, reported contactmusic.com

But he is determined to return to the real-life slums in Mumbai and track down the young stars to make sure that they are fine after their brush with overnight success.

In the meantime, he's distressed whenever he hears the youngsters have been caught up in negative press stories - and can't believe the British tabloid reports that Rubina's father tried to sell her to a bogus Middle Eastern couple.

The police have failed to find any evidence to prove Rafiq Qureshi attempted to sell his young daughter for $300, 000 (200, 000 pounds).

Anil, who played the role of a quiz show host in the multiple oscar-winning film, says he always feared the child stars of "Slumdog Millionaire" would be exploited upon their return to India after a trip to the Oscars in February.

"That's the worry we always had. We all discussed that. When they're exposed to this kind of limelight, this is what is going to be the disadvantages, " he said.