Indian girl who escaped poverty by starring in Oscar-winning documentary and enjoyed rise to stardom that saw her toss the coin at Andy Murray Wimbledon final now penniless

An Indian girl who escaped poverty by starring in an Oscar-winning film and enjoyed stardom that saw her toss a coin before the 2013 Wimbledon final is penniless again.

Pinki Sonkar was just five years old when she starred in the 2008 American documentary ‘Smile Pinki’, which centered on the life-changing surgery to correct her cleft lip.

Directed by Megan Mylan, the film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) and generated national attention for raising public health awareness of clefts.

Soon after, Ms Sonar enjoyed a shot at fame, taking part in the customary coin toss at the 2013 Wimbledon final between Andy Murry and Novak Djokovic.

But Ms Sonar, now 18, is back in her village of Mirzapur near Varanasi and has found herself in ‘the same circumstances as before’.

Talking to The telegraph she said: ‘Nothing has changed for me. Visiting the Oscars was a great experience, it filled me with joy.’

Ms. Sonar went on to say that “except for journalists,” no one comes to visit her.

As a young girl, Mrs. Sonar was isolated from her community because of her disability and was previously not allowed to go to school.