Post-Oscars, Rubina’s biological mother surfaces to claim her

Mumbai, Feb 26 (PTI) On her return from the US, it was not only the red carpet welcome that awaited “Slumdog Millionaire” child artist Rubina Ali. Success in the international arena has also brought forth unexpected consequences, with both her biological mother Khushi and her step-mother Munni, with whom she lives in suburban Bandra slums, asserting their ‘right’ over her. Both want to claim Rubina, basking in international fame after the golden Oscar run of “Slumdog Millionaire”, as their own.

Rubina, who plays the child Latika, lives with her father Rafiq Qureshi and Munni.

Following the success of the Danny Boyle film, Khushi has returned to Garib Nagar slums, where she lives with her carpenter father.

According to Rafiq, Khushi left him and their three children — Rubina is the youngest — five years ago to marry ‘some rich person’ and never returned. However, Khushi says she had left the children with their grandmother.

Rubina’s life changed when talent hunter Parvez Ahmed picked up a bunch of kids from the slums and put them on sets of “Slumdog Millionaire”. Rubina has never attended school.

The filmmakers paid the children for 30 days of acting work, their families a small monthly stipend and set up a trust through which the children will get money after their graduation. PTI

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Rahman says Oscars are a “starting point” of my career

Chennai, Feb 26 (PTI) Coming home to an overwhelming reception after his dream run at the Oscars, music wizard A R Rahman said he viewed the top honour not as a “climax” of his career but a “starting point” for making a difference to music and people’s perception towards it.
Arriving to the chants of ‘Jai Ho’, the award winning song of Slumdog Millionaire, by his fans and well-wishers, Rahman said he was completely overwhelmed and touched by the rousing reception.

“They (fans) almost killed me with their love,” the music maestro said in a lighter vein.

On bagging two Oscars, Rahman said “it (winning Oscars) is not the climax of my career.. It is a starting point for making a lot of difference in music and in the way people think about music.” Rahman said that he wanted to use the occasion to give a message that between love and hate he always opted for the former.

“Between love and hate, I chose love.. The actors and directors (present at the Kodak Theatre) liked the statement. Even Michael Jackson (pop star) liked it”, he said with a smile.

A festive atmosphere prevailed at the airport where Rahman was treated to a musical reception by his friend and popular percussionist, Sivamani, who played the drum. PTI

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Slumdog kids arrive home to a rousing welcome

Mumbai, Feb 26 (PTI) The child actors of Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire” arrived here from their dream US trip to a rousing welcome from family and friends today.
The actors, including Azharuddin Mohammed and Rubina Ali, who play the childhood roles of the lead characters of the film, reached Chhatrapati International Airport by a British Airways flight from Los Angeles via London at 11.45 am.

The kids, who received a red carpet reception at Los Angeles, came out amid heavy security and were whisked away by the representatives of FoxStar (which had arranged their travel to the US) in four cars.

A large media contingent was waiting at the arriving lounge.

Seven-year-old Azharuddin, resident of Behrampada, a slum along the suburban Bandra railway track, was the first to reach home, where his neighbours erupted in joy on seeing him.

They burst fire crackers and lifted him and danced to the tune of ‘Jai ho’, the popular song from the Danny Boyle-directed film that won eight Oscars.

Azhar’s mother, Shamim, who also went to Los Angeles with her son, said both were overjoyed by their experience in the US. PTI

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Rahman, Pookuty, child artists return home to heroes’ welcome

Mumbai/Chennai, Feb 26 (PTI) India‘s sound magicians A R Rahman and Resul Pookuty and the child actors of the multiple Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire” returned home today to a heroes’ welcome as cheering family members, fans and well-wishers lined up the airports to fete them.
Rahman, who became the first Indian to win two Oscars, arrived at the Chennai airport from Dubai by an Emirates Airways flight around 2.30 am.

Arriving to the chants of ‘Jai ho’, the award winning song of “Slumdog Millionaire”, by his fans and well-wishers, Rahman said he was completely overwhelmed and touched by the rousing reception.

“They (fans) almost killed me with their love,” he said in a lighter vein.

Pookutty along with “Slumdog Millionaire” actor Irrfan Khan arrived at the Mumbai airport and were garlanded by enthusiastic fans amid beating of drums.

On the other hand, the child actors of the film reached Chhatrapati International Airport by a British Airways flight from Los Angeles via London at 11.45 am and were given a rousing welcome by family and friends. PTI

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