London: 'Slumdog Millionaire' actor Dev Patel was fished out of the River Cam in Cambridge by actor Jeremy Irons after he lost his balance while filming 'The Man Who Knew Infinity'. Shocked onlookers watched as Patel, 24, lost his footing while filming, and fell in to the cold waters of the River Cam yesterday as Irons jumped to his aid.
The pair were stood at the side of the river, playing onlookers, for their roles in 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' in Cambridge.
As Irons vigorously applauded a punting race, the actor lost his footing and slipped down the bank into the cold river while clasping his text books as part of his role and had to wait to be rescued by Irons.
His crisp cream suit didn't last long, as Patel held aloft his two books to save them from the murky waters of the Cam. The pair spent the day by the River Cam filming at Trinity College in the historic university city as they rehearsed and shot scenes for the Hollywood epic about Indian mathematician Srinivasa.
Based on the 1991 novel by Robert Kanigel, the film sees the character Srinivasa Ramanujan Iyengar, played by Patel, growing up in poverty in Madras, India, and earning admittance to Cambridge University during World War One.
There he becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his professor, G H Hardy, played by Irons, who recognised his brilliance.
