In Mumbai and Delhi the number of street beggar kids and the families that survive on handouts now exceeds the entire population of Great Britain.

Now, a one-off Sky1 documentary next week will transport the viewer to Mumbai – the commercial heartbeat of India – to have a deeper look at their way of life.

Dharavi, a bustling shanty town on the edge of the city is seen as a launch pad for India’s rural migrants seeking a break in Mumbai. It has a thriving (if chaotic) recycling industry and is home to over 600,000 people.

Sky1 picks up where the film finishes – what happens once you’ve had a life changing injection of money?

Andrew O’Connell, commissioning editor, Factual said: “Everyone knows the story of Jamal, ‘The Slumdog Millionaire’ but what is life like for the REAL slumdogs? We wanted to explore this fascinating underworld and meet the interesting characters who have turned their lives around in a similar way to Jamal. Just like in the film these people’s lives will touch, inspire and surprise the audience.”

The Real Life Slumdog Millionaires, Monday 23 February 22.00, Sky1 and Sky1 HD