India examines dispute over 'Slumdog Millionaire' child star

India examines dispute over 'Slumdog Millionaire' child star

Indian police are carrying on investigation of the claims and counterclaims by the parents of a child star in 'Slumdog Millionaire' after a British tabloid brought out the allegation that the father tried to sell the nine year old child actress Rubina Ali to an undercover reporter.

Further the accusations complicated the lives of the families of the slum-dwelling child stars, who came under intense scrutiny since the movie gained prestigious Oscar-winning awards and made a profit of over $300 million dollars through out the world.

Khurshid Begum, the estranged mother of "Slumdog Millionaire" star Rubina, filed a complaint with Mumbai police on Sunday after the tabloid reported that the father planned to put her up for adoption. The same newspaper added that the deal was allegedly offered to one of its reporters thereby posing as a sheik from the Mideast.

The newspaper remarked that the father was demanding millions of rupees, worth the equivalent of $400,000.

"They should be punished," "No father should dare sell his daughter," added Begum after getting into a physical confrontation with Rubina's stepmother.

Police took the father, Rafiq Qureshi, and Rubina from their home in a Mumbai slum to a police station where he was briefly questioned.

While talking to the reporters outside the police station on Sunday, Qureshi denied the report by saying that he had been lured to a fancy Mumbai hotel by someone claiming that they were moved by Rubina's story and wanted to help her.

He continued, "We had gone there to meet them in goodwill," "But they have made false allegations about me and tried to frame me."

Qureshi also said that he was promised cash and "were talking of giving more too" if he gave up his daughter.

"But I refused," added Qureshi.

According to him,  he told police that he believed that it could be a plot for regaining custody by his ex-wife, who left several years ago, only to return and try to play a role in Rubina's life after the film's success.

He added, "My children are with me, and I could give my life for them," "I will never sell them to anybody, no matter how much money they offer me."

Police said that they were investigating.

Police officer Nishar Tamboli told reporters, "There are claims and counterclaims made by the mothers and the father," "We are probing the matter."

The newspaper quoted Qureshi as saying that Hollywood was to blame for forcing him to give her up for adoption.

Rafiq Qureshi was quoted as claiming, "We've got nothing out of this film," "I have to consider what's best for me, my family and Rubina's future."

The children in "Slumdog Millionaire" were chosen with the local help of casting director Loveleen Tandan. To give the film a realistic view of the Mumbai slums, she and director Danny Boyle decided only weeks before shooting began to cast local kids who were not professional actors.

Rubina and young co-star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail were discovered on the Mumbai streets by the filmmakers. The film's adult stars, Dev Patel and Freida Pinto , shot to international stardom, becoming red-carpet regulars during Hollywood's awards season.


Following the success of the film, some criticized the filmmakers for failing to share the wealth with Mumbai's millions of slum dwellers. Others accused them of exploiting two of the child stars, Rubina and Azharuddin, 10, who grew up in a wretched Mumbai slum.

The initial efforts of the filmmaker to help their families were thwarted by media attention, the changing demands of relatives and the film's runaway success. Sudden fame and relative fortune also complicated relations between the actors and their neighbors.

The filmmakers was afraid that if they gave the families a lump sum, the money would be squandered or extorted. Instead, they set up a trust fund for the two children that was supposed for providing them with a good education, adequate housing and social support.

Last week they also announced a donation of $747,500 to a charity that gave donation to improve the lives of street children in Mumbai.