« Even little star is for sale »

Rafiq Qureshi, who lives in a Mumbai slum along with his star daughter, offered to sell Ali for nearly $300,000 to undercover reporters, the paper says. News of the World also published a photo of their journalists meeting with the family while disguised as a wealthy couple from Dubai. The story, published by Britain's News of the World newspaper, is a « lie made up by foreign journalists playing games with me, » cash-strapped dad Rafiq Qureshi tells People magazine. « In India, you never say 'no' directly, least of all to guests, » he said. «  You try not to offend people by refusing to help. They said they were childless and desperately very fond of Rubina after seeing her in the film. I felt very sorry for them, but i was never going to give her up. »

Ali echoed her father's statements saying that, « I trust my father. He loves me. He has never said that he wants to give me up. I did meet an uncle and auntie in a big hotel but it was not for an adoption I will never give any foreign journalist an interview again. » The child actress and father were spotted at a police station in Mumbai where both were interrogated about the incident.

This was only the beginning of the story. Days later, another family problem crops up. The mother and the step-mother of Rubina were fighting in front of the gir and some photographes who have taken photos. It started because of the story about « the sale of the little girl. » Noboby around separated them as it became very violent and they started to hit each other.

Even little star are for sale even though the father has denied all the information. The good thing about that is Danny Boyle has set up a trust fund for Rubina for her education and she can have a bright future. Being famous does not mean having a quiet life. Will this story about the sale continued and create a lot of problems for the little girl. This is the only start of a star's life.

Marie-Ange Louis