Slumdog Millionaire's Rubina Ali, the little girl who starred in the film as a young Latika, is experiencing real-life drama. Her father, Rafiq Qureshi, allegedly tried to sell her in an illegal adoption deal for nearly $300,000. He's now been arrested and her mother and stepmom resorted to blows in the streets of Mumbai's Garib Nagar slums.
More photos after the jump
Rubina, 9, who was abandoned by her birth mother and raised by her father and stepmom, watched as the two women slapped each other and pulled hair, arguing about Rafiq's decision to sell his child for thousands of dollars.
The child's stepmom said of Rubina's mother, "Khushi has been after Rubina since the time she went to the Oscars. For seven years before that, she didn't care. Why would we sell Rubina? She is her father's favourite. I love Khushi's children more than she would have loved them."
After the fight, Rafiq Qureshi said, "As far as Khushi is concerned, she left Rubina when she was two years old. Why should we give her custody now? The children are happy with us."
Rafiq denies claims he tried to sell Rubina and says he's being framed. "These reports are not true. I went to the hotel to shoot an ad film. I would never sell my daughter," said Rafiq.
A source said, "Rafiq was told to bring Rubina to the hotel, where a rich man wanted to discuss a job with him. He happily agreed because Rubina can earn good money since her Slumdog success.
"She has had many movie offers. Rafiq didn't understand everything that was being said to him but he was happy to discuss money for a well-paying job for his daughter. He loves her like any father loves his daughter."
This is not the first Slumdog controversy since the film's huge success. Ten-year-old Azharuddin Mohammed Slumdog star was beaten by his dad, after returning home from the US.
Both families claim the filmmakers have forgotten them and they've not received any financial help. Producer Christian Colson said, "We have friends and colleagues in Bombay who are trying to speak with Mr Qureshi to get to the bottom of what happened. Her family is under a lot of pressure."
Colson, along with director Danny Boyle are expected to pay the young stars a visit in May. He said, "Danny and I are committed to Rubina and Azharuddin for the long term. We are trying to keep a roof over their heads, and keep them in school until they are 18. The problem is there are a lot of parties who are telling the parents different things.
"We agreed to buy apartments a couple of months ago but that process stalled because they decided they wanted the money up front instead. In the past few days we have got things back on track, and are now back looking at apartments."
Each child will receive money that's been set up in trust, once they turn 18. As well, properties will be placed in trust, with ownership released to the parents when the children turn 18 and have completed their education.
Colson added, "We can't buy the properties outright and give them to them, because in all honesty they will sell them."
[Source]
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