Ayush Mahesh Khedekar (Marathi: आयुष महेश खेडेकर; born 2000) is an Indian child actor, best known for playing the child version of Jamal Malik in Slumdog Millionaire (2008), for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award. Ayush is from Bhayandar, a distant Mumbai suburb, originally from Ratnagiri, KhedekarWadi and studies at the Ramaben Babubhai Kanakia School. His mother Saili is a teacher in a Marathi medium school. His father Mahesh used to be a Marathi theatre actor, but he stopped acting after Ayush was born. Mahesh is currently an engineer with the Bombay Port Trust. Ayush has been acting in India since age 4, appearing in commercials for Britannia, Colgate, Kelloggs and HDFC. He has also acted in serials like Baa Bahoo and Baby, Kayamat and Karam Apna Apna, and appeared in the Bollywood film Family. He made his international film debut in Slumdog Millionaire (2008). His role won a lot of praise from audience and critics alike for his natural ability to act and his screen presence that makes up a significant portion of the film.