NRI sponsors Rubina

Moved by media reports that Slumdog Millionaire’s child actor Rubina was allegedly being sold off to a sheikh from Saudi Arabia for an exorbitant amount, an NRI businessman has stepped in to help her shape her own future. And what better way than through education!

A R Vanoo from Doha, Qatar, says he is willing to fund Rubina’s schooling in any part of the world, upto a master’s degree or even a doctorate, if she wishes to pursue her studies. With money clearly not an issue, the wellwisher is even open to her studying at an IB (International Baccalaureate) school, known to charge steep fees.

Vanoo visited Rubina’s home on Tuesday morning, and met her father and relatives. He spent around an hour with them over a cup of coffee. He held a detailed discussion to understand the requirements of the family before committing himself. “I have not seen Slumdog Millionaire, but know it’s won several Oscars. Three days ago, when I watched television reports about Rubina’s father allegedly trying to sell her off, it disturbed me deeply. I have a young daughter, and I could not watch her suffer so much.”

Though Vanoo was born and brought up at Vakola in Santacruz, which isn’t far from Bandra’s Garib Nagar where Rubina lives, he said he had never visited the area before. It was about 25 years ago that Vanoo shifted to the Gulf in search of a job, before deciding to settle there. He runs a successful business in petrochemicals, oil and gas exports and visits Mumbai often on business trips.

With a father, who Vanoo says was a freedom fighter, he has been closely working with NGOs for several years. He is an advisor to Anjuman-Ittehad-Ul-Mushtaqeem, an NGO that that works to educate people in rural areas. It is through this NGO that Vanoo will give money for Rubina’s education.

“Vanoo is an MBA graduate and has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and contributes to several NGOs but never really interacts directly with the people he helps. He, however, made an exception with Rubina,” said Kamal Mandlekar, president of the NGO.

He added that Vanoo did not want to set aside a fixed amount for the girl. “He doesn’t want to limit himself. He’s decided to open a joint account in the name of Rubina and our NGO. The money will be used to pay for her education, uniforms and other schoolrelated requirements.”

Last week, there had been media reports about a sting operation carried out by a British newspaper, News of the World, which claimed Rubina’s father had tried to extract money from a sheikh who had sought to adopt her. Rubina’s father had denied the claims. But Mandlekar preferred to stay away from the controversy. “We do not want to get involved in the case. We only want to help a bright girl shape her future,” he said.

Leave Slumdog stars alone!

Director Danny Boyle has pleaded with the press to leave the young stars of “Slumdog Millionaire” alone - because the constant attention is ruining their lives.

The Oscar winning movie's child actors, Azharuddin Ismail, 10 and nine-year-old Rubina Ali, were catapulted into the limelight following the global success of the film, which has grossed $353 million at the worldwide box office.
But both kids have been hit by scandal and tragedy since they became famous.

Ali's father was quizzed by Indian police over allegations he attempted to sell his young daughter for $300,000, although he has since been cleared of the claims.

And Ismail's dad was forced to apologise to the world's press after he was seen beating his son just days after the film's Oscar glory in February.

Boyle is convinced their sudden fame is responsible for the incidents - and he has begged the media to leave the pair in peace.
He tells Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, "The parents are good people who love their children. All the pressure and tension on the family is media-dominated and there has been a lot of miscommunication because we live in London and have only been able to read the news stories from afar."

Both families were also forced out of their homes in Mumbai, India in May when local authorities bulldozed swathes of the city's slums - before Boyle stepped in to buy new apartments for the young stars and their relatives.
And the director is dedicated to building a happy future for Ismail and Ali - away from the prying eyes of the press.

He adds, "They are really wonderful kids who have been brought up in very difficult circumstances. It has obviously been a very difficult period, but the best possible benefit that this film could ever give them is an education and we are very, very proud that they are making progress and have passed all their exams.

"Things are looking positive - they will be in their houses soon. I certainly hope this is the last time I have to speak to the media about Azhar and Rubina in this context."

'Jai Ho', 'Slumdog' in race to be millionth English word

'Jai ho', 'cuddies' and 'slumdog' are among the 73 other finalists from across the globe to become the millionth English word.

The Global Language Monitor, an Austin, Texas-based firm that analyses and catalogues the latest trends in word usage and word choices with a particular emphasis on English, will choose the millionth word on June 10 at 10.22 a.m. GMT.

At present, there are 999,927 words in their 'English language world clock'.

According to the firm's site languagemonitor.com, 'cuddies' - the Hinglish word for ladies underwear or panties; jai ho - used as a term of praise in Hindi that became popular through the Oscar winning "Slumdog Millionaire"; as well as slumdog - a disparaging description of slum dwellers - are all in the race to becoming the millionth word in the English language.

"The million word milestone brings to notice the coming of age of English as the first truly global Language," said Paul J.J. Payack, president and chief word analyst of the Global Language Monitor.

According to the site, owing to the "global extent of the English language, the millionth word is as likely to appear from India, China or East Los Angeles as it is to emerge from Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's home town)".

Payack who authored "A Million Words and Counting" also said that there were three major trends involving the English language at present.

"First - an explosion in word creation - English words are being added to the language at the rate of some 14.7 words a day. Second is a geographic explosion where some 1.53 billion people now speak English around the globe as a primary, auxiliary, or business language. Third - English has become, in fact, the first truly global language."

Other English millionth word finalists are Australia's alchopops - sugary flavoured mixed drinks; bangster - a Polish combination of gangster and banker, de-friend - Internet lingo for no longer following a friends update on sites, sexting - texting of sexual content, quendy-trendy - British youth slang for hip and up to date, and mobama - relating to the fashion trends of US first lady.

Another word in the list is 'OK' - called "the most recognised English word on the planet".

Global Language Monitor has been tracking English word creation since 2003.

In Shakespeare's time, there were only two million speakers of English and fewer than 100,000 words. He himself coined about 1,700 words.

Former US president Thomas Jefferson invented about 200 words while George W. Bush created a handful, including misunderestimate. US President Barack Obama's surname passed into the word list last year with the rise of obamamania.

Slumdog kids invited for grand tea party in The House of Commons, London

Oscar and Bafta Award winning film Slumdog Millionaire seems like going a step further in recognising its star cast to the world audience. Be surprised because it's not Dev Patel and Freida Pinto. Slumdog Millionaire's Azharuddin Mohammed and Rubina Ali have received a special invite from Britain's MP Keith Vaz to attend a grand tea party to be held at the House of Commons in Westminster later this month. Keith Vaz wanted to invite both the kids in the month of April but due for reasons unknown, it didn't work out. Now he has made sure that there are no further delays. Both the kid's family accepted the invitation sent by Vaz and are now ready to leave for London in the near future to attend the grand tea party. Though the date of the party is still to be decided, Vaz wished that both Azharuddin and Rubina meet the UK media and their well wishers who've praised their performances in the multiple award winning film.

Speaking exclusively from London with UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent, Keith said, "Both the kids have left a lasting impression on the people of UK to such an extent that they are now interested in knowing about the personal lives of the kids after what was badly written about them in the Indian and world press. I haven't yet decided the date when the party will be held but it sure is going to happen in the near future."

Well, these kids deserve much more than just slums. Way to go kids!

Dev Patel desperate to remain a 'normal kid'

"Slumdog Millionaire" teenage star Dev Patel is so desperate to remain a "normal kid" that he still uses public transport in his native London.

The 17-year-old is re-adjusting to superstardom after his big screen debut in the multi-Oscar winning movie catapulted him into the spotlight and Patel refuses to let fame go to his head, and still uses London's underground tube trains to remain as grounded as possible, reports contactmusic.com.

"I've been meeting all these people I've watched for years on TV, and they actually know who I am. The other day I jumped on the tube, and all the faces in the carriage turned my way. I can't get used to that, man. I'm still pretty much a normal kid," he said.

He's also been following the advice "Slumdog" director Danny Boyle gave him after the success of the underdog drama.

"Danny said to take each day at a time, not to let it overwhelm me, and just be myself," he said.

Slumdog… kid's father slams Danny Boyle

"Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle, who rushed to India on Wednesday (May 28) to help the film's child stars, was stunned when a child's father accused him of ignoring them.

Some of the children have become homeless after civic authorities razed their shanties. Boyle had come down to offer them help.

However, Rafiq Qureshi, father of Rubina Ali, 9, left their meeting in anger accusing the filmmaker of neglecting them after the film's global success.

"A house is being provided for the kids...we have been listening this for the last five months...I don't see any house coming our way. The shanty that we were living in has already been razed...where are we getting a house from?

"If they are providing us a house, when are they going to do it? Our kids are literally living on the road now," an exasperated Qureshi told a news channel later.

"Slumdog" producer Christian Colson also participated in the meeting held at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences on the outskirts of the city.

"We are looking for a legal accommodation that should be held by the trust (Jai Ho) to ensure the safety of these kids and it would be properly monitored as well," a calm Boyle told the reporters.

The kids including Azharuddin Ismail M. Shaikh, 10, the main child star of the movie, apart from Rubina, were both thrown on the streets after Mumbai civic authorities demolished their shanties May 14, terming the slum unauthorised.

The producers of the multiple Oscar-award wining underdog drama had earlier announced a setting up Jai Ho Trust to look after the two child stars and ensure that they receive quality education and a house to live in.

Danny Boyle to Slumdog... kids' rescue

Director Danny Boyle has jetted to India to help find a home for the displaced child stars of his Oscar-winning movie “Slumdog Millionaire”.

The director met with several of the film's stars at the private lounge of Mumbai's JW Marriott hotel on Tuesday (May 26) as part of his ongoing efforts to provide financial aid for the young actors.

Boyle established the Jai Ho Trust last year to ensure nine-year-old Rubina Ali and her co-star Azhar Ismail, 10, would receive financial backing to ensure their educations after plucking them from impoverished obscurity to star in his film.

But the children don't appear to be receiving any monetary aid - Ali was left facing life on the streets after authorities demolished her shantytown shack earlier this month, days after her co-star Azhar Ismail suffered the same ordeal.

A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "Their lives do not appear to be any better."

'I don't have a fixed address'

While she is travelling all around the world and meeting famous people, Freida Pinto, heroine of the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire", feels Mumbai will always be her home.

"I don't have a fixed address as I'm making movies all over the world. I'm filming in Israel at the moment and who knows after that, so I'm not making plans to buy my own place yet," dailymail.co.uk quoted Freida as saying.

"Ultimately, Mumbai will always be home. That's where my family is," she added.

The 24-year-old actress is presently working on a film, "Miral", in Israel and has also been signed by Woody Allen for an untitled film to be shot in London.

Freida, a model and a travel show presenter in India, said when she auditioned for Danny Boyle's "Slumdog...", she didn't know that it would become such a big hit.

"I had no idea 'Slumdog Millionaire' would become such a huge success. In fact, when we were filming, none of us expected it, so the feeling of surprise and shock is still with me."

"The film won eight Oscars and I was nominated for Best Supporting actress at the Baftas, and now, when I look back at photographs in magazines of me at the film awards I can still hardly believe it's me," she added.

Rubina Ali loses home

After Slumdog kid, Azharuddin lost his home to the MC, it was Rubina’s chance to lose the smile off her face.

The shanties along Bandra station, a plush Mumbai suburb, were razed on Tuesday.

The little girl is sad to have lost the roof over her head in the blink of an eye but she is more upset to have lost her mobile phone is all the commotion. “I used to play games on it. Now I have nothing to play with,” she complains.

The girl’s mother, Munni says that her success from Slumdog has got her nothing. She wishes the government gave her a house to live in.

"Slumdog" child actor homeless - News In Video

Freida upset with calender pictures

Freida's hotshots from a 2006 calender have bothered her. The shoot was apparently quite bold and the revealing pictures, which are being spread across the world, have not made her happy.

Only one film old, she is the toast of Hollywood and is currently in Israel shooting for her second film. She is currently dating 18-year-old Dev Patel, her costar in Slumdog Millionaire.

Freida Pinto is new face of L'Oreal

“Slumdog Millionaire” star Freida Pinto is to become the new face of cosmetics giant L'Oreal - despite rumours the actress was set to sign a six-figure deal with rival Estee Lauder.

The Mumbai-India born beauty was expected to follow in the footsteps of former campaign girls Elizabeth Hurley and Gwyneth Paltrow with a $280,000 (£200,000) contract to become the first Asian spokeswoman for the Lauder brand.

But Pinto has now confirmed she will front campaigns for L'Oreal instead.

She says in a statement, "I am very moved to be joining the great L'Oreal Paris family and all these personalities: a family I am now proud to be a part of."

“Lost” actress Evangeline Lilly has also been signed as a L'Oreal cover girl.

Freida's not spared even in loo breaks

Freida Pinto’s currently shooting for her film Miral in Jerusalem, Israel.

The lady will speak English in an Arabic accent. Sporting shoulder-length hair, the actress who has gained a few kilos post Slumdog..., has become so popular with the paparazzi that they didn’t even spare her during loo breaks!

Pictures of Freida marching towards the loo during her shoot and even getting out of it have become hot property! The actress who made it to the list of the top 100 most beautiful people in the world is apparently being chased by scribes and impatient photographers who want to capture her every move on and off the sets, and her recent loo break pics are examples of the media’s excessive interest in her. Truly wonder how Freida’s coping with the paparazzi... She’s probably blushing even after flushing these days!

Where do Dev and Freida meet

Where do “Slumdog Millionaire” stars Dev Patel and his lady love Freida Pinto meet?

Any guesses? We are sure not many will get this one right.

Apparently, the secret meeting place between the two is a loo!

It seems during the promotion of “Slumdog Millionaire” in India, the duo would snatch some time between the interviews and get into the ladies' rooms of five-star hotels.

We know they were super busy then, but still! Moreover, at that time weren't they supposed to be “good friends only”?

Freida's success is no big deal, says Gulshan Grover

During a recent visit to LA, Gulshan Grover was overheard saying not-so- kind stuff about Freida Pinto.

A source reveals that Gullu was telling his gora dosts that Freida's success isn't a big deal.

He went on to claim that every other Goan girl resembles Freida.

Apparently, his phirang friends didn't quite take to the comment and claimed Freida was definitely hot and worth all the hype. Finally Gullu had to cave in and toe the line of his friends.

Freida and Dev are together

Ocar winning "Slumdog Millionaire" star Dev Patel's mother spoke of her son's off-screen love with his co-star, Freida Pinto, and said "life can't get better" for her son.

Dev and Freida (pictured above) have always denied their movie romance spilled over into real life. But their pictures enjoying an intimate lunch date in Israel last week raised eyebrows, reports mirror.co.uk.

"First it was the film and now everything else seems to have slotted into place. Life can't get any better for him. Freida is really beautiful and I am really happy for them. Yes, we knew he was flying to Israel to see her," Dev's mother Anita Patel said.

The couple are said to have started the relationship on the sets of Danny Boyle's film.

Slumdog star Rubina's case closed

"Slumdog Millionaire" fame child actor Rubina Ali's (pictured above) father Rafiq Qureshi has officially been cleared by Indian police over allegations that he attempted to sell his daughter.

Qureshi was quizzed by the police in Mumbai on April 20 after British newspaper News of the World alleged he offered to auction off the nine-year-old for 200,000 pounds to get rid of poverty and become an overnight millionaire, reports contactmusic.com

The accused protested his innocence throughout the scandal, claiming that the story was a "lie made up by foreign journalists playing games with me".

Authorities on the other hand, have failed to find any evidence to back up the accusation announcing that they have dropped their investigation into the case.

"There is not any crime. The matter is closed. No money changed hands. Rubina is here. There is no crime," said senior police officer Rahim Shaikh.

Freida Pinto among world's top 10 sexiest women

"Slumdog Millionaire" star Freida Pinto appeared in the chart of world's sexiest women for the first time in the British men's lifestyle magazine FHM.

She debuted in at the 10th position in the magazine while singer Cheryl Cole topped the list, reports thesun.co.uk.

Last month, Pinto was also voted among the top five Hollywood sexiest women by men's magazine Details.

The "Girls aloud" beauty Cole, 25, knocked last year's winner, actress Megan Fox, to the second place in FHM sexiest women list. Cole's victory is the first for a Britisher in three years.

Other additions to the chart included French President Nicolas Sarkozy's wife Carla Bruni, who was voted 40th sexiest woman in the world.

Almost 10 million votes were cast by FHM readers worldwide for the poll.

Meanwhile, Fredia and her "Slumdog Millionaire" co-star Dev Patel have been spotted kissing during a romantic night out, says a report.

The actors, who played childhood sweethearts in "Slumdog...", have frequently dismissed rumours that they are dating even after co-star Anil Kapoor hinted they were an item, femalefirst.com reports.

However, Patel recently jetted to Tel Aviv to visit Pinto on the set of her new movie "Miral" and the pair was later spotted enjoying a few tender moments during a romantic dinner.

Anil Kapoor keen to investigate Slumdog kid scandal

Anil Kapoor is keen to get back to India so he can investigate reports his young “Slumdog Millionaire” co-star Rubina Ali's father tried to sell her.

The Bollywood actor is in Hollywood, where he's being honoured at the seventh annual Indian Film Festival, and he admits he has lost contact with the kids in the hit film.

But he's determined to return to the real-life slums in Mumbai and track down the young stars - to make sure they're all OK after their brush with overnight success.

In the meantime, he's distressed whenever he hears the youngsters have been caught up in negative press stories - and can't believe the British tabloid reports Ali's father tried to sell her to a bogus Middle Eastern couple.

Indian police have failed to find any evidence to prove Rafiq Qureshi attempted to sell his young daughter for £200,000.

Kapoor admits he always feared the child stars of “Slumdog Millionaire” would be exploited upon their return to India after a trip to the Oscars in February.

He says, "That's the worry we always had. We all discussed that... When they're exposed to this kind of limelight this is what is going to be the disadvantages (sic)."

Shekhar Kapur criticises British tabloid for Slumdog sting

Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur (pictured left) has criticised the British tabloid that conducted a sting on "Slumdog Millionaire" child star Rubina Ali's father Rafiq Qureshi.

Kapur who directed a soft drinks advertisement with the nine-year-old and Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman recently in Udaipur in Rajasthan has slammed the media organisation for the report and suggested that the "British tabloid needs to be condemned for the sting operation".

"I just worked with Rubina, the little girl from 'Slumdog Millionaire' and what a joy she was to work with...I had been reading about what was going on with her father's alleged attempts to 'sell' her. I was aghast though at the sting operation done by that British tabloid, which instead of being condemned worldwide is being heralded as a great piece of journalism," Kapur posted on his blog on Tuesday.

"...What was the tabloid trying to do? Trying to push a father to name a price for his daughter's adoption?...How dare they judge and manipulate other people and their moral predicaments from their comfortable colonial point of view. I would rather have them arrested for obscene suggestions and offers than the father for coming to the negotiating table," he added.

The online edition of the tabloid newsoftheworld.co.uk had reported that in a bid to escape slum life, Qureshi put Rubina up for adoption, demanding 200,000 pounds from the organisation's undercover reporters posing as a wealthy family from Dubai.