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A film role, flats, new school... life looks up for child stars
For Rubina Ali, 8, and Azharuddin Ismail, 10, life is all set to follow an upwardly mobile curve after Slumdog Millionaire’s runaway success at the Oscars. Gigil Varghese reports.
For Rubina Ali, 8, and Azharuddin Ismail, 10, life is all set to follow an upwardly mobile curve after
Slumdog Millionaire
’s runaway success at the Oscars.
Rubina, who played young Latika in the film, has been approached by US film producer Maria Yongmee Shin for a role in a forthcoming project. Shin has produced children’s films like Journey to Little Rock: The Untold Story of Minnijean Brown, which won awards at various festivals.
“We’re considering Rubina for our film,” Shin told Hindustan Times.
“She (Shin) gave me her card and said she would have a role for Rubina in the film,” said Rubina’s uncle Mohiu-ddun Khan, who accompanied the girl to the US. Rubina and Azharuddin have been invited back to Los Angeles by the Academy when they turn 18 to collect certificates for their roles in Slumdog Millionaire. “I can’t wait to go back,” said Rubina. “Even if I have to wait 10 years, it’s something I can look forward to.”
Last week, the Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority Mumbai approached the housing board to allot flats to the children for making the country proud. “The chief minister has approved flats for the stars in Malvani, Malad,” Mumbai Congress president Kripashankar Singh said. “The houses are under the low-income-group.”
Director Danny Boyle has admitted the two in an English-medium school. “He also pays Rs 1,500 per month for books and a rickshaw to pick and drop Rubina and Azhar,” said Rafiq Quereshi, Rubina’s father.
