Rubina Ali

Last updated

Rubina Ali Qureshi
Born
Rubina Ali

1999or2000(age 23–24) [1]
Other namesRubina Qureshi
OccupationActress
Years active2008–2013

Rubina Ali, also known as Rubina Qureshi, is an Indian actress who played the child version of Latika in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire (2008), for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award. Following the film's success, she was cast in the Bollywood film Kal Kisne Dekha (2009).

Contents

Personal life

Like her on-screen character, Rubina came from one of the slums of Mumbai, living in the Garib Nagar slum near Bandra station. She lives with her father Rafiq, her sister Sana, her brother Abbas and her stepmother Munni. Rubina's biological mother, Khurshid (alias Khushi), after divorcing Rafiq, married Monish. Her father married Munni and Rubina was raised by her father and stepmother. Munni has four children from her past marriage – Suraiya, Sanjida, Babu and Irfan. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Following the success of Slumdog Millionaire at the 2009 Academy Awards, the Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority recommended the children be rehoused, with an official saying the children had "brought laurels to the country" and deserved to be rewarded. [6] On 25 February 2009, the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority announced that Azharuddin as well as Rubina would be given "free houses" so that they would no longer have to live in the Mumbai slum of Garib Nagar. [7] However Ali remained in a shanty in Garib Nagar until it burned down in March 2011. [8] After taking temporary refuge in rental, Rubina and her family were eventually rehoused in her own flat in the Bandra West suburb of Mumbai, bought for her by the Jai Ho Trust set up by British director Danny Boyle. [9] [10]

Career

Slumdog Millionaire team at the 81st Academy Awards in the US Cast "Slumdog Millionaire".JPG
Slumdog Millionaire team at the 81st Academy Awards in the US

Critics have claimed Rubina and her co-star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail had been underpaid for their part in the film. This has been disputed by the film's producer, who says the actors had been paid the equivalent of a monthly salary payment for the production company's senior staff in Britain. A trust fund has been set up for the children which will be released to them when they turn eighteen, provided they continue in education until this time. [11]

Both Azharuddin and Rubina attended the 81st Academy Awards on 22 February 2009, along with all of the other actors who played Salim, Jamal and Latika. Azharuddin was accompanied by his mother Shameem Ismail, while Rubina was accompanied by her uncle. [12] This was her first journey outside of Mumbai.

In March 2009, Rubina was cast in the Bollywood film Kal Kisne Dekha (2009), alongside her Slumdog Millionaire co-star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail. The film was directed by Vivek Sharma and featured the Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Rishi Kapoor and Juhi Chawla in cameo roles. [13]

In July 2009, 9-year-old Rubina wrote an autobiography called Slumgirl Dreaming detailing her life so far and her experience filming Slumdog Millionaire, making her the youngest person to pen a memoir. [1]

In 2009 Ali announced that she would be starring in the romantic comedy Lord Owen's Lady alongside Anthony Hopkins,[ citation needed ] but as of 2013 the film has not commenced filming. [14]

As of 2020, she was studying fashion design at a university and was working a part-time job at a makeup studio. [15]

In 2022, she opened her own beauty salon near Mumbai. She is pursuing a career as a hair and makeup artist. In an interview with The Times of India, she said would be open to possibly acting again. [16]


Compensation

According to the United Kingdom newspaper, The Daily Telegraph , Rubina Ali was paid £500 during filming for a month's work on the film. [17] A Fox Searchlight spokesman responded that for their one-month work on the film, she was paid three times the amount of an average annual salary for an adult living in their neighborhood. [17]

On 26 January 2009, Danny Boyle (director) and Christian Colson (producer) released a written statement saying that they had “paid painstaking and considered attention to how Azhar and Rubina’s involvement in the film could be of lasting benefit to them over and above the payment they received for their work”. Boyle and Colson have stated that they have "set up trust funds for Rubina and Azharuddin and paid for their education," although the exact amount of the trust funds is not known. This has also been met with criticism as there is question as to how children growing up in the slums have any expectation of being able to attend higher education, making the trust fund potentially useless. [17]

Boyle has explained that, "We don't want to reveal exact figures about what's in the trust fund, what's in the bank account for them for when they leave school because it will make them vulnerable and a target really but it is substantial, and they will hopefully gain benefit from the film long after the film has disappeared and long after the media who are chasing them at the moment sadly have lost interest in the film and that's been our approach throughout and I think it's the right approach." [18] [19]

Awards and honours

Won

Nominated

Filmography

YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
2008 Slumdog Millionaire Younger Latika English and Hindi
2009 Kal Kisne Dekha Hindi
2013La Alfombra RojaherselfHindi and EnglishThe Red Carpet in English; documentary short

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Boyle</span> English filmmaker

Daniel Francis Boyle is an English director and producer. He is known for his work on films including Shallow Grave, Trainspotting and its sequel T2 Trainspotting, The Beach, 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, Steve Jobs and Yesterday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waheeda Rehman</span> Indian actress (born 1938)

Waheeda Rehman is an Indian actress and dancer. Regarded as one of Hindi cinema's finest actresses, Rehman's accolades include a National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards. Rehman was honoured with the Padma Shri by Government of India in 1972, later receiving the Padma Bhushan in 2011. She has received significant media coverage across her film career.

Organised crime in India refers to organised crime elements originating in India and active in many parts of the world. The purpose of organised crime in India, as elsewhere in the world, is monetary gain. Its virulent form in modern times is due to several socio-economic and political factors and advances in science and technology. There is no firm data to indicate the number of organised criminal gangs operating in the country, their membership, their modus operandi, and the areas of their operations. Their structure and leadership patterns may not strictly fall in line with the classical Italian mafia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salim–Javed</span> Popular Indian screen-writing duo

Salim–Javed were an Indian screenwriting duo, composed of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, working in Bollywood. They are noted for being among the first Indian screenwriters to achieve star status, becoming one of the most successful Indian screenwriters of all time. They are regarded as among "Hindi cinema's greatest screenwriters". They worked together on 24 films during 1971–1987, of which twenty were commercially and critically successful films. They worked together on 22 Bollywood films, as well as two Kannada films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dev Patel</span> British actor (born 1990)

Dev Patel is a British actor. He began his career playing Anwar Kharral in the E4 teen drama Skins (2007). His breakthrough came with the leading role of Jamal Malik in Danny Boyle's drama Slumdog Millionaire (2008), for which Patel was nominated for the British Academy Film Award for Best Actor.

<i>Slumdog Millionaire</i> 2008 film directed by Danny Boyle

Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel Q & A (2005) by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It narrates the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. Starring Dev Patel in his film debut as Jamal, and filmed in India, the film was directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and produced by Christian Colson, with Loveleen Tandan credited as co-director. As a contestant on Kaun Banega Crorepati, an Indian-Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Jamal surprises everyone by being able to answer every question correctly, winning ₹2 crore ($460,000). Accused of cheating, Jamal recounts his life story to the police, illustrating how he is able to answer each question correctly.

<i>Kal Kissne Dekha</i> 2009 Indian film

Kal Kissne Dekha is an Indian Hindi-language romantic science fiction film directed by Vivek Sharma, who earlier directed Bhootnath. The film introduces debutantes Jackky Bhagnani and Vaishali Desai. It has been reported to have similarities with the 2007 Hollywood film Next, starring Nicolas Cage. Kal Kissne Dekha released on 12 June 2009. Upon release it received negative reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freida Pinto</span> Indian actress (born 1984)

Freida Selena Pinto is an Indian actress who has appeared mainly in American and British films. Born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, she resolved at a young age to become an actress. As a student at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, she took part in amateur plays. After graduation, she briefly worked as a model and then as a television presenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loveleen Tandan</span>

Loveleen Tandan is an Indian film and casting director. She is the co-director (India) of Slumdog Millionaire along with Danny Boyle. She has also been the casting director for several other films, including Monsoon Wedding (2001) and Brick Lane (2007). She has been a casting consultant for The Namesake (2007).

"Jai Ho" is a song composed by A. R. Rahman for the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. When Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire, approached Rahman to compose its soundtrack, he included the song. "Jai Ho" accompanies a choreographed dance sequence at the end credits of the film. Indian singer Tanvi Shah wrote and provided vocals for an English section of the song. "Jai Ho" is a phrase which can be roughly translated as "Let [the] victory prevail", "Let there be victory", or "May there always be victory".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayush Mahesh Khedekar</span> Indian actor (born 2000)

Ayush Mahesh Khedekar is an Indian actor, best known for playing the child version of young Jamal Malik in Slumdog Millionaire (2008), for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award.

"O... Saya" is a song from the soundtrack of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. It was composed by Indian musician A. R. Rahman and British producer M.I.A., both of whom performed on the recording.

Madhur Mittal is an Indian actor. He is best known for his character 'Tito' in the TV serial Shaka Laka Boom Boom and his performance as Salim Malik in the film Slumdog Millionaire, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2008 and for which he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

The film Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight Academy Awards in 2009, has been subjected to a number of criticisms, notably regarding how it portrays Indian society and alleged exploitation of some of the actors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail</span> Indian former child actor

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail is an Indian former child actor, who played the youngest version of Salim Malik in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire (2008), for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award. Following the film's success, he has been cast in the Bollywood film Kal Kisne Dekha (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longinus Fernandes</span>

Longinus Fernandes (Longie) is an Indian choreographer and dancer, who won the Filmfare Best Choreography Award in 2009; and internationally he is most known as the choreographer of the closing credits dance sequence featuring Academy Award for Best Original Song winning song, Jai Ho and another featuring O... Saya, also nominated in the same category, in the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008).

The 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire has been a subject of discussion among a variety of people in India and the Indian diaspora. Some film critics have responded positively to the film. At the same time, others objected to issues such as Jamal's use of British English or the fact that similar films by Indian filmmakers have not received equal recognition. A few notable filmmakers such as Aamir Khan and Priyadarshan have been critical of the film. Author and critic Salman Rushdie argues that it has "a patently ridiculous conceit."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krystal Garib</span>

Krystal Kiran Garib is a Broadway performer, singer, dancer, filmmaker, producer, choreographer and philanthropist. In 2010 she became the first and sole North American singer and performer to tour the world with Oscar and Grammy Award-winning Bollywood film composer A.R. Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire. Garib has modeled for Femina (India) magazine has appeared on the cover of Dance Spirit Magazine.

The 21st Century Leaders was founded in 2003, by Charlotte di Vita MBE, a Goodwill Ambassador to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. The 21st Century Leaders programme was launched by Trade plus Aid, British Charity Registration 1061376. Trade plus Aid is an ethical trading organisation established in order to create environmentally sound and economically viable means to alleviate poverty in impoverished communities, initially in Africa.

Maxima Basu is an Indian fashion designer, actress and director. She was the assistant director of Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire (2009). She has designed for popular Bollywood films like Ram Leela (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Dangal (2017), which became the highest grossing Indian film of all time, replacing senior designers Rushi Sharma and Manoshi Nath. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Costume Design in 2016 for Bajirao Mastani. She worked in Bajirao Mastani and Ram Leela as a team with designer Anju Modi, both shared 4 wins and 2 nominations jointly. Later, Maxima worked alone for Dangal.

References

  1. 1 2 Mesure, Susie (5 July 2009). "'Slumdog' star writes memoir – at the age of nine". The Independent. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "I want to stay with dad: Slumdog star Rubina Ali – Mumbai – DNA". Daily News and Analysis. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Sell off Rubina? It's a lie: father". The Indian Express. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "In the belly of iniquity". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 26 April 2009. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Ramesh, Randeep (28 February 2009). "Slumdog actor upset at return of her mother". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  6. ↑ "Slumdog children to be rehoused", BBC News, 25 February 2009.
  7. ↑ Serpe, Gina. "Slumdog Kids No Longer Slumming It", E!, 25 February 2009.
  8. ↑ "Slumdog Millionaire child actress's home in Mumbai fire". BBC News. 5 March 2011.
  9. ↑ Slumdog Millionaire' star Rubina Ali's flat in Bandra IBN 16 October 2011
  10. ↑ From slums to queen of suburbs, Rubina Ali goes places The Weekend Leader 2 April 2012.
  11. ↑ "Slumdog Millionaire's child stars to miss Oscars" The Daily Telegraph
  12. ↑ "Two Mumbai slum kids set for fairytale journey to Oscars". Indo-Asian News Service. 19 February 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  13. ↑ "Azhar and Rubina shoot for movie where Shah Rukh has a cameo". The Siasat Daily . 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  14. ↑ Baker, Steven. "Slumdog Millionaire's Rubina Ali 'abandoned' by UK director". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "‘Slumdog Millionaire’ child artist Rubina Ali's father passes away due to tuberculosis", The Times of India, 31 January 2020.
  16. ↑ "Exclusive Pics! Slumdog Millionaire actress Rubina is now a hair stylist and a makeup artist", The Times of India, 14 January 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 Dean Nelson and Barney Henderson (26 January 2009). "Slumdog child stars miss out on the movie millions". The Daily Telegraph . London. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  18. ↑ Tapper, Jake. "Slumdog Symphony: A Chat with Danny Boyle". ABC. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  19. ↑ Ahmed, Afsana; Sharma, Smrity (5 March 2009). "From Slumdog to Bollywood". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  20. ↑ "15th Annual SAG Awards, Recipients Announced!". 25 January 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.[ dead link ]
  21. ↑ "Cadillac, Slumdog & Bees are Triple Threats Black Reel Awards". Daily Express . 15 December 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.