"Slumdog Millionaire" Star Rubina Ali's House Torn Down AGAIN

Mail Online:

She's the child star of one of last year's highest grossing movies, but Rubina Ali has been left homeless for the second time in a year. The Slumdog Millionaire actress, 10, and her family had to sleep in the open air after their home in India was demolished to make way for a new railway line.

This comes despite the promise of a new luxury apartment paid for by a trust fund set up by the hit film's director Danny Boyle.

Read the whole story: Mail Online

Comments

[WakingLife]

05:58 PM on 01/02/2010

Such a sad story. I really hope the girl manages to get through this and get the education and money set up for her. I'm worried that her family will end up ruining her.

[brooklyncitizen]

11:17 PM on 12/31/2009

She needs a foster parent or mentor or a different guardian.

[freeus]

08:52 PM on 12/31/2009

Hope she isn't lost in the shuffle- what a doll.

[MaryscottOConnor]

02:55 PM on 12/31/2009

My god. Is there no way to get a social services situation sent in to get this child and her siblings out of this man's clutches?

[brooklyncitizen]

03:19 PM on 12/31/2009

No social services in India.
Affluent and middle class Indians are truly indifferent to the poverty in their country. Class is king.

[nybirdcalls]

11:55 AM on 01/01/2010

1) There indeed are social services in India, definitely in Mumbai where the child and her family currently reside.
2) The statement that they are "truly indifferent" is incorrect. Many from the "affluent middle class" in fact are members of NGOs that in fact work with similar families.
The issue however is very complicated. A lot of the slum shanties are constructed on the roadside, often completely blocking the sidewalks. Being illegally constructed on state roads/land, the 'encroached' land is periodically cleared out. The related issue however that needs to be looked into is the home already offered to the family. That would still not solve the problems of many of her neighbors though. In fact many structures have indeed been constructed for the displaced residents from the slums. The city/state municipalty has been battling with this issue since the 70's following increased migration into the city.

[ruhaba]

10:34 AM on 12/31/2009

Her father tried to sell her in black market, she should go live with her mother not that stupid ,greedy man.

[ywcachieve]

07:15 PM on 01/01/2010

There is no proof of that allegation.

[cocolola]

10:25 AM on 12/31/2009

Danny Boyle has done all that he could for this family. Homeless twice in a year? Sounds like a mismanagement of funds to me. Too bad dear old dad is in charge. My heart goes out to the kid.

[candodo]

10:14 AM on 12/31/2009

Greed.

There is no reason why Rubina is still living in the slum since she has an apartment waiting for her. Unfortunately, the father wants a bigger apartment and refuses to accept the one they now have.

Rubina's family acts like they deserve more of everything. When these child actors were cast for the film they signed a standard contract that paid them for their services. Nothing more. That should have been enough. But Mr. Boyle set up a trust fund for these three children and even bought them homes so they wouldn't have to ever live in the slums again. The children stand to receive a large amount of money IF they complete their education AND the homes are in their names-NOT the names of the parents- so the homes can't be sold or taken away from them.

The greed of the parents is appalling! They want more money, bigger apartments, etc. And Rubina's father "allegedly" tried to sell his own daughter to get more money! If it weren't for the Hai-Jo trust fund set up for these children's benefit they would have had to have settled for the money they received for their acting duties and nothing more. Perhaps Mr. Boyle ended up doing these children a dis-service through his kindness by giving the parents a greedy gleam in their eyes and a sense of unearned entitlement.

[sanobahini]

10:26 AM on 12/31/2009

I so agree. The Jai Ho trust was set up to ensure the children complete their education (something that would not happen if it were left to the parents), and to make sure the money doesn't go into the hands of the vultures like her parents, relatives and unscrupulous hangers-on. On top of this, the foundation set up by Danny Boyle is doing much more in the slum area where the children live, helping build schools and ensure many more children have decent lives. Its sad to see photos of this young girl at the sight of her demolished home. But in the long run, she will benefit from having had her money carefully managed by a trust which will ensure it is used for the best interests of the children, and no one else. And, as was previously noted, she has a flat waiting for her. It is the father who has refused it.

[redhead61]

05:15 PM on 12/31/2009

Theres more greed going on than just these childrens parents. With a movie that makes that much money, there could have clearly been more help to get these people OUT of India to be able to make more out of their lives.

[VermontObama]

01:22 PM on 01/01/2010

Why? Why does it matter how much money the movie made? The girl was hired for a part, and then paid for her work. She's not entitled to anything more than that. The director generously gave charity to the kids, which was above and beyond his responsibility. Just because an actor is poor, a director or production company doesn't have to adopt them and take care of them for the rest of their lives. If I was in the movie business, I wouldn't come near this girl for another part in a film....too much headache. I also wonder if production companies will think twice before casting "authentic" actors for future roles about kids in slums.

[OverIt]

10:11 AM on 12/31/2009

The family is 100% responsible for their continued homelessness.

According to the story linked here:

"[Slumdog Director] Boyle, 53, has bought flats for Rubina and Azharuddin Ismael Shaikh, her ten-year-old co-star, whose shanty home was also destroyed in May.

Azharuddin’s family has moved into their new flat but Rubina’s family have had their move delayed because they are still locked in a dispute over the apartment with the film-maker’s Jai Ho Trust.

According to local media, the Ali family wants an apartment worth 4million rupees (£53,000) instead of the 2.5million rupee home that the British director has bought for them.

The Jai Ho Trust consists of a £450,000 pot of money to provide for Rubina’s and Azharuddin’s education and housing, and was set up by Danny Boyle in April."

Greed is NOT good.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1239683/Slumdog-Millionaire-star-Rubina-Ali-sees-shanty-town-home-demolished-SECOND-time-year.html#ixzz0bHI5feMP

[panasonic52]

09:52 AM on 12/31/2009

I don't trust her family at all. I was born in Bombay (Mumbai), and I always felt sorry for the people in the slums. I consider myself lucky for getting the chance to move to the US. I wish my family could adopt her. If allegations are true, her family doesn't deserve her.

[Milash]

09:50 AM on 12/31/2009

Her parents have no shame.

[lukebenward]

09:36 AM on 12/31/2009

lol Kid just can't get a break. :-p

Wasn't she sold on the black market, too?

[Veronica]

10:33 AM on 12/31/2009

Interestingly enough, "LOL" is my usual reaction to circumcision. Go figure.

[lukebenward]

11:07 AM on 12/31/2009

I don't "LOL" when I see images like this:
http://www.sexuallymutilatedchild.org/