Beaufoy gets first Oscar for Slumdog, owes it to Vikas Swarup

Los Angeles, Feb 23 (PTI) British scriptwriter Simon
Beaufoy fetched the first Oscar in the Best Adapted Screenplay
category for for "Slumdog Millionaire", based on Indian
diplomat Vikas Swarup's novel "Q and A".

"It is a tremendous honour. I thank Vikas Swarup,
without him 'Slumdog' would not have happened, thanks Vikas
Swarup," said Beaufoy while accepting the golden statuette.

"Thank you Dev, thank you Latika and the entire cast
and crew of Slumdog," Beaufoy said.

The scriptwriter has already bagged the Golden Globe
and BAFTA for "Slumdog Millionaire".

"I learnt a lot about life," said Beaufoy about his
India experience.

This is a first Oscar for Beaufoy, who was earlier
nominated in 1997 in the Original Screenplay Category for the
film "Full Monty". PTI