Sunday, December 27

This way Slumdog Millionaire changed lives of child stars
Rubina AliThe super duper success of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ has dramatically improved the bleak lifestyle of child stars Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, with both being enrolled full-time in school, and are living in far better conditions than before.

While Ismail has been shifted into an apartment, Rubina and her family are still on the Garib Nagar slum but have dramatically upgraded their home.

However, they are waiting to be moved into a modern apartment.

Rubina, who played the role of young Latika in the Oscar winning film, which tracked the story of an 18 year old boy from rags-to-riches, has done an advertisement with Hollywood star Nicole Kidman.

She has also become the youngest person in publishing history to write a memoir titled ‘Slumgirl Dreaming’, which has sold 200,000 copies worldwide so far.

Both the actors have been receiving a monthly allowance equivalent to 75 pounds each through a charitable trust developed by director Danny Boyle.

But they only get the money if their attendance record at school is above 70 per cent.

“Last year, people would throw rubbish at me, but now the garbage man collects it from my new house and people are very good to me”, said 10 year old Azharuddn.

Meanwhile, slums shown in the film will soon be redeveloped.

The value of plots will multiply by five and the Nagar slum will become the first rubbish-free slum in Mumbai after builders start work.

Wednesday, May 27

Danny Boyle to rescue homeless Slumdog kids
Danny BoyleSlumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle is flying to India to rescue child stars Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail.

Both the child stars’ were rendered homeless after Mumbai authorities torn down their shanties following a slum clearance drive.

Boyle fears that lives of Azharuddin, 10, and Rubina, 9 are spiralling downwards despite their Oscars success.

He had set up a 500,000 pounds trust to help them in education and give them apartments.

Monday, March 2

Slumdog Millionaire star's dad wants more money
Exactly a week after winning eight Oscars Awards, the team of Slumdog Millionaire has got mired in a new controversy.

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail who plays the brother of child lead - Jamal in the film, will get less than £20,000 from the producers of the film. The producers have set up a trust fund for the children which they will access once they turn 18.
Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail-Slumdog Millionaire
This has left his father, Mohammed Ismail complaining. He feels that the money given to his son isn't enough. His father has now has demanded more cash from the producers. "My son has taken on the world and won. I am so proud of him but I want more money. They promised me a new house but it hasn't happened. I'm still in the slum." He said.

The producers have promised to buy a home to the families after facing allegations that the children were not paid well for working in the film.