Rubina Ali, the 9-year old actress who played the young Latika in Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire, will soon publish her autobiography under UK’s Transworld Publishers and Random House Children’s Books. Both publishing houses are divisions of Random House Group Ltd.
Her book will detail her impoverished childhood, as well as her recently earned international fame. To be released in July, the book’s royalties will be split between the little girl and Medecins du Monde, a French medical aid organization.
Along with her young co-stars, Rubina Ali was found by Slumdog director Danny Boyle in the Mumbai slums of India and cast in the movie. For her month’s work on the film, Rubina was paid £500.
Less than a month ago, the shanty where Rubina grew up in was torn down by Mumbai authorities. The incident came less than a week after the demolition of the slum dwelling of her Slumdog co-star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail.
In April, Rubina’s father denied the allegations that he tried to sell her for $290,000.
The producers of Slumdog Millionaire have reportedly set up trust funds called the Jai Ho Trust for the movie child actors’ education and healthcare, as well as pledged to help in their housing needs.
Rubina Ali is cast in the upcoming Bollywood film Kal Kisne Dekha.
The 9-year old’s autobiographical book is entitled “Slumgirl Dreaming: My Journey to the Stars.”
Via BBC
Its true that both the book and the film brought fame to India and its child stars. Indian slums have too many stories untold.