Freida Pinto’s on a new high

It is another diamond in Slumdog Millionaire actor Freida Pinto’s tiara.

She will be the first and the youngest ever Indian actor (25 years) to sashay down the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival by doing a Hollywood film, Miral, that is part of the official competition section at the September 1-11 fest. The film has also been selected by the Toronto Film Festival.

The good news for the actor doesn’t end here as her Woody Allen directed movie You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger will also be screened in Venice. Freida, we hear, is still undecided about what she will wear on the prestigious red carpet.

A reliable source reveals, “Freida is quite becoming the big awards fest babe. She saw her debut movie get nominated and winning an Oscar. Now, the second and third films of her career are being screened at Venice. She is delighted and on cloud nine. Freida is praying that her film wins the competition section too.”

Freida shot in Jerusalem for the movie and even learnt Arabic for Miral.

It has been directed by Julian Schnabel, who was nominated for an Oscar for his acclaimed directorial venture The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Miral is based on the book written by Rula Jebreal titled The Road of Flowers Miral.

Rula is rumoured to be Julian’s current girlfriend. The movie has bowled over the jury at Venice with its touching story that narrates the life of a character named Hind Husseini and chronicles the protagonist’s effort to set up an orphanage in Jerusalem after Palestine was partitioned in 1948 and Israel was created.

“When you see that the hard work you have done pays off in such a big way, it satisfies any actor. Naturally, Freida is excited to be in Venice and being the only actor ever to have been nominated for an international movie is a big deal for her. She is mulling over her red carpet dress. Her designer friends in London might bail her out of the situation,” says the informer.

We hear that Freida will also walk the red carpet alongside Woody Allen.

“The Tall Dark Stranger will have a red carpet. Woody is very fond of Freida and they will walk the red carpet together,” reveals the insider.

Freida could not be contacted for a comment on these developments.