Actor Rubiana Ali (R) shares a lighter moment with her father Rafiq Qureshi on February 28, 2009 in suburban Mumbai, India. Rubiana Ali who starred in the Academy Award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire," visits with her family in suburban Mumbai. (Photo by Ritam Banerjee/Getty Images)
British newspaper News of the World has reported that “Slumdog Millionaire” star Rubina Ali, 9, who played the role of the young Latika on the film is now up for adoption – for a fee amounting to $300,000.
Rafiq Qureshi, the father of Rubina has allegedly put her daughter on the market for the huge amount of money. Qureshi blamed her daughter’s movie star status for his decision to sell her.
An undercover reporter of News of the World approached Qureshi acting on behalf of a wealthy Arab sheik that wanted to adopt Rubina.
“We are considering Rubina’s future,” said Qureshi.
“Obviously, if you wanted to adopt we could discuss this, but her parents would also expect some proper compensation in return. We are talking of around å£50,000 for this to happen. We can discuss everything about this deal when we meet. There’s a lot of interest in Rubina, she’s become very famous,” Qureshi’s brother-in-law Rojan More said over the phone to the undercover reporter adding that he is also expecting a bid amounting to $300,000.
“The child is special now. This is NOT an ordinary child. This is an Oscar child,” said Qureshi’s brother Mohiuddin.
But, a source told the newspaper that “Rubina’s family is furious that despite the film doing so well and their pretty daughter becoming so famous, they are still living in such rough conditions… Dad Rafiq is streetwise and knows that soon his daughter’s success will be forgotten and her moment of fame will be over. He has a family to feed and simply can’t afford it. He is keen to find a rich family to bring up Rubina but only if they are willing to help the whole family to get out of the slums.”
Save The Children as well as other children’s charities have expressed their concern over the issue, and have also pledged to help Rubina.
“Save the Children pays tribute to the News of the World for highlighting this awful reality. We will do all we can to help Rubina,” said Adrian Lovett, Save The Children representative.
