Sourav Ganguly's omission from the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League is not "purely on cricketing basis", says former India captain Kapil Dev.In what turned out to be one of the major embarrassments in his chequered career, India's most successful cricket captain Ganguly was absent red-faced as none of the 10 franchises put his first name up in the wish list after both rounds of auctions that concluded in Bangalore on Sunday. Anjitha:676
A senior Pakistani cricket official on Saturday blamed India for the exclusion of Pakistan's players from next year's lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.
Subhan Ahmed, chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), claimed that India did not respond to queries about the participation of Pakistani players.
"We asked them about the participation of Pakistani players, but they did not give any response," he told reporters. To read more:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com Anjitha:127
Even as more stars get lured into the charming fold of Twitter, citing assorted reasons, Preity Zinta is amply clear as to why she resorted to the micro blogging site.
"There were a whole lot of unwarranted rumours about me," reveals Zinta in a tabloid talk. "And I wanted to assure my fans that they weren't true. Twitter gave me that platform."
Post IPL, the perky PZ will be back facing the arc lights after her Thailand holiday trip, wherein she'll be accompanied by her mother.
Endorsement shoots and shows, which she'd earlier committed to will now see the Preity light of the day. Besides, she's gearing up to greenlight 'Har Pal', which has been on hold for quite a while. Asserts PZ, "Whether it's Hollywood or Bollywood, I want to be a part of all kinds of cinema and do films all over the world."
On the personal front, Zinta opines that her Harvard stint strengthened her on various counts. "It broadened by horizons and has taught me to think big. Harvard taught me how to structure my business and be less emotional. More importantly, it taught me how to keep my mouth shut when needed." Silent lessons, eh?
Salman Khan's merging his two great loves… charity and cricket… for a humanitarian cause. Come May 21, Dubai will welcome Khan for a charity cricket match for his 'Being Human'.
The prize: 'Being Human Cup' will be contended by celebs from India and Pakistan. Reportedly, Khan had been planning this move since quite a while, though he was waiting for the IPL 3 to tail off before he could announce it.
It's been touted that Sharman Joshi, Jackie Shroff, Riteish Deshmukh, Azharuddin, Govinda, Vinod Kambli, Arbaaz and Sohail Khan, among others, will represent the Indian team. The cheerleading glam gals are likely to be Zarine Khan, Riya Sen, Dia Mirza and Neha Dhupia.
A close source states, "All the proceeds from the match will be directed towards 'Being Human.' The Pakistani side will also comprise celebs such as actors Ali Zafar, Shaan Shahid and Adnan Siddiqui, among others. And among the cheerleaders will be Nadia Hussein, the musical group 'Strings' and Iman Ali."
Post match, plans are on the anvil to unveil a fashion show and a lavish dinner for team participants.
She'll be holding court… and courting controversy, pretty soon. After her stint as a judge with reality show 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa,' Shilpa Shetty Kundra has reportedly bitten the arbiter bait, yet again.
Reportedly, the saucy star has raked in a whopping sum to play judge on 'IPL Rockstars'. A close source states, "The show 'IPL Rockstars' required a star connected to the Indian Premier League. Shilpa was roped in coz' she definitely fitted the bill."
Channel 'Colors' aims to blend the nation's two mega passions: cricket and music together, by having 12 talented singers competing to be the 'IPL Rockstar 2010'
The kool Mrs Kundra will judge contestants based on their stage presence and crooning capabilities. Rocking judge for rockstar magic!
The weekend gone by saw the release of RIGHT YAAA WRONG, HIDE and SEEK, NA GHAR KE NA GHAT KE, SWAHA and TRUMP CARD. Since none of these managed even a face saving initial, one wonders if the 'evil of IPL' (at least from Bollywood's point of view) has already started showing its ugly face?
For a movie like RIGHT YAAA WRONG, this was perhaps the best time to arrive since it was stuck for long and was searching for a window. With a star cast that boasts of the likes of Sunny Deol, Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma, there was always a chance of something good in the offering. The film did indeed turn out to be quite good and saw out and out positive reviews coming its way. Still, the box office opening told a different story.
HIDE and SEEK must be wondering though if it has found itself amidst too much of crowd since it was ready for quite some time now. However, the film's director Shawn Arranha is positive that his horror thriller will see good footfalls coming its way despite the onset of cricket season. "IPL is a sport and a game for everyone to enjoy. Similarly my movie is also meant to entertain people. I know for sure that there will be audience for both of them."
Similar confidence can be sensed in the way Rahul Aggarwal made his debut as an actor, director and producer with small budgeted NA GHAR KE NA GHAT KE. Aided with decent promotion, this film which has actors like Om Puri, Paresh Rawal and Ravi Kissen adding to the 'star value', is arrived at a time when it had to find place for itself between four other releases.
Though it may still fetch some eyeballs in the interiors and single screen audience, one wonders whether the makers of SWAHA and TRUMP CARD come with similar aspirations. Coming out of nowhere, these films do remind of the last year's IPL season (coupled with producer's v/s multiplex standoff) where insignificant releases like these came in horde. No wonder, the outcome wasn't any different.
The Indian premier league (IPL) has taken the British market by storm on ITV. Backed by effervescent programming anchored by our very own Mandira Bedi, Itv seems to have broken all records in viewership of sports programming in England. Sources say that the first few days have beaten last years all time record. Itv's IPL ratings have gone 5 times over and the projection is its ratings will be 10 times over last year, apart from the regular programming on other channels; IPL clearly has emerged as a top sporting extravaganza on British television.
James MacLeod from ITV had to say this on the overwhelmed response from viewers "We're delighted with the viewing figures for the IPL so far. The ratings for ITV4's coverage have been around seven or eight times those achieved by Setanta last year, and we're delighted to be bringing the competition to a wider audience."
Mandira could not hide her excitement when she heard this and said "To be accepted and to be a part of something which is so overwhelming is like a dream come true. I hope we continue to entertain and bring all the excitement of the IPL as it happens".
Back here in India Lalit Modi also expressed immense satisfaction on the way IPL has been accepted by the British audience. Modi said "ITV beats Sky Sports over the weekend in number of viewers. This is great going. The ITV numbers are double that of rugby league. This is huge by all imaginations. UK figures for viewership on ITV already 10 times that of last year. This is just fantastic news."
The biggest winner, it seems have been Mandira and ITV. While Itv has officially stated on their website "The Indian Premier League's decision to go free view in the UK on ITV's digital terrestrial channel ITV4 has paid off handsomely. The IPL's debut on ITV4 has been declared a hit, according to ratings figures released Monday. Mandira is already a household name in England"
Shah Rukh Khan, in freezing Berlin for the red carpet premiere of 'My Name Is Khan', may be physically far from the turmoil back home, but is mentally in Mumbai. The superstar says he has 'no ego' and will clear any 'misunderstanding' with Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.
'I know Balasaheb and Uddhav-ji (Thackeray) well, and if there's a misunderstanding I'll clear it. I've no ego, no false self-respect. It ('MNIK') has released in London, New York, Dubai, Berlin, and I'll be happiest if the Mumbai audience could see it.
''My Name is Khan' does not take a stand, it only points out things. When I join politics I'll take a stand. Inshallah, there will be no issue about my statements, we can have a discussion and work it out. All I want to do now is walk the red carpet, have some champagne and hope that all will be fine,' Shah Rukh told IANS in an interview here.
The Shiv Sena had opposed the film's release after Shah Rukh refused to apologise for saying that Pakistani cricketers should have been included in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches.
Sena activists had vandalised several theatres in Mumbai that were to screen 'My Name Is Khan', but fans of 'King Khan' thronged cinema halls Friday, giving the thumbs down to the Sena hooligans.
On the attacks on theatres showing his film, Shah Rukh said: 'I have no stand, no ideological issue. I'm a mere actor. I'm genuinely sorry if my comments have hurt someone. I'm in the business of making people happy.'
The star was effusive in his praise of his director-producer Karan Johar.
'Karan Johar is exposed to a lot more international films than previous filmmakers. He decided not to rest in a comfort zone and work only for money, but take the chance to make our mark in the world. The Berlinale provided us a perfect platform. It takes guts to get out of your comfort zone and 'My Name Is Khan' is the first step.
'For Kajol and me, we were the right people at the right time and right place. Indian entertainment believes that love will conquer all, but here we've dressed it up in a way the Western audience likes. I'm lucky to be born in the time of Karan Johar and his direction.'
Director Anurag Kashyap says the Hindi film industry lacks integrity and that if Bollywood had united, the ruckus created by the Shiv Sena over Shah Rukh Khan's 'My Name is Khan' could have been avoided.
'If it is considered to be an industry, people should have unity among themselves. At least once, they should unite and show that we are working, we are also professionals. They never do that so these people dare and take advantage of it,' Kashyap told IANS.
The Shiv Sena had opposed the film's release after Shah Rukh Khan refused to apologise for saying that Pakistani cricketers should have been included in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. Sena activists had vandalised several theatres in Mumbai that were to screen 'My Name Is Khan', which also stars Kajol.
'Bigger the star you fight with, higher the media attention you draw. They make use of it too. Nothing...you need not to go to Australia or Pakistan and die in their hands, stay in Mumbai, Shiv Sena will kill you,' said Kashyap, who has made films like 'Black Friday' and 'Dev D'.
Asked if he was tagging the Shiv Sena as terrorist, he said: 'What to say...people are scared of them, they are pelting stones on cinema halls, breaking glasses, incurring damages. What is their standpoint?
'Shah Rukh Khan said that teams should be allowed to hire Pakistani players and they say that Pakistan had attacked us, how could Shah Rukh advocate their inclusion in the IPL teams? We are subjected to more attacks from insiders here. You need not go anywhere and have an unfortunate death, stay in Mumbai,' Kashyap added.
Many of Shah Rukh Khan's fans in Mumbai vowed Saturday to watch 'My Name is Khan', saying the superstar hadn't make any mistake by remarking against the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
'We were always with him. No one should have pointed a finger at Shah Rukh Khan who has given so much to Mumbai and is a big Bollywood star. I have seen his movies since childhood and I am planning to go to watch this one as well. All I want to say is that he didn't do anything wrong,' Shaukat Ali, 36, a bag vendor in Bandra, told IANS.
The Shiv Sena had opposed the release of 'My Name Is Khan' after Shah Rukh refused to apologise for saying Pakistani cricketers should have been included in this year's IPL.
Despite Sena activists vandalising several theatres in Mumbai that were to screen 'My Name Is Khan', fans of 'King Khan' thronged cinema halls where the film released Friday.
But there were certain areas where the movie wasn't shown, leaving his fans disappointed.
'On Friday, there was adequate security in the Navi Mumbai theatres and the crowd was there to watch the movie, yet it was not screened. Hope to watch it this weekend,' said Apar Mathur, 23, a medical intern.
'I am not sure whether it is being screened yet but I am very keen to watch it,' he added.
Ketaki Mishra, a resident, pointed out that the format of IPL matches was such that players from all countries were allowed to participate in it and what Shah Rukh said about the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers made sense.
'Frankly speaking, what Shah Rukh Khan had said didn't call for such ruckus and controversies. It was a generic statement and the issue has been blown out of proportion. He didn't say anything wrong or make any mistake. Why such a big fuss?' she asked.
Shopkeeper Aayaz Khan said: 'I am a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. I will watch the movie next week.'
More than 1,000 activists of the Shiv Sena were arrested for vandalising cinemas and multiplexes that will screen 'My Name Is Khan', forcing several theatres in this film capital to Wednesday stop advance bookings.
As the Shiv Sena went on the rampage two days before the release of the Shah Rukh Khan starrer -- despite the Mumbai Police assuring security cover at the 63 cinemas and multiplexes scheduled to show the movie here from Friday -- the administration arrested 1,023 party workers between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
They were booked under various charges like rioting, damaging property, unlawful assembly and trespass, officials said.
Fearful of further damage, multiplex chains like Big Cinemas, PVR and Cinemax withdrew their advance bookings for the film, as did single screen theatres like Mehul in Mulund and Shreyas in Ghatkopar.
'We have shut the advance bookings for the film as of now. It may open (later) but nothing is certain,' Girish Wankhede, deputy general manager (Corporate Communication) of Cinemax, told IANS.
Pramod Madhve, an official from Mehul Theatre, said: 'Nothing about the film's release is fixed yet. We hope to receive updates by tomorrow. But the advance bookings have been shut for now.'
A Shreyas Theatre official said: 'Bookings have been closed as of now, we should be in a position to tell you about the release by tomorrow.'
'My Name Is Khan' has been under the Shiv Sena scanner ever since superstar Shah Rukh made comments in favour of the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Shah Rukh is co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders team.
Shiv Sena leaders had unofficially backed down from the protests against the film Saturday, prompting Shah Rukh to tell reporters he was glad the party understood his point of view. But the U-turn came quickly.
'We don't see it as a threat to the release of the movie but it's a threat to the law and order situation,' Himanshu Roy, joint police commissioner (Law & Order), said Wednesday.
But the issue went beyond just the film with Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray taking umbrage at Chief Minister Ashok Chavan's threat to withdraw his security cover.
'What does he (Chavan) mean by talking of withdrawing my security? I am myself giving up the security,' Uddhav Thackeray said in a page one statement in the party mouthpiece Saamna.
'My security can go to Kasab,' he said, and asked sarcastically who the two most secure people in Mumbai were -- Shah Rukh Khan and Kasab.
According to Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe, the party had 'a difference of opinion' with Shah Rukh and his new movie and the party activists were spontaneously reacting in this regard.
On Tuesday night, after a day of attacks by Sena activists on half-a-dozen cinema halls in the city, Chavan warned them to 'behave themselves' or lose the security cover given to Uddhav and other party leaders.
On the beaches of Puri, the sands did some talking as artist Sudarsan Pattnaik Wednesday created a sculpture to condemn Shiv Sena attempts to disrupt the screening of Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming movie 'My Name Is Khan' (MNIK).
He and his students sculpted out of sand a 30-foot long film reel, images of Bollywood city Mumbai and a cricket bat on the beaches of Puri, some 56 km from here. The sculpture took seven hours to make and bore the message, 'Don't blame players and artists'.
'I condemn the protest against Shah Rukh and against his film 'My Name Is Khan',' Pattnaik, who has won many national and international awards for his art, told reporters.
'Please do not target artists and players. We will gain nothing from it,' he said. He hoped the artwork would appeal to people to refrain from such acts.
The much-awaited Shah Rukh film, slated for a global release Feb 12, is facing threats from the Bajrang Dal and the Shiv Sena. Sena activists Tuesday attacked some theatres in Mumbai where the film is to be screened to protest Shah Rukh's remarks against the exclusion of Pakistani players from the Indian Premier League.
The Hero Group has not acquired Kings XI Punjab, one of the eight franchisees of the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket tournament, the company as well as Preity Zinta, the co-owner of the team, clarified Wednesday.
'Hi everyone! Just want to clarify that we have not sold the team to Hero Honda! Another example of how the media can get it all wrong,' Preity posted on her Twitter page Wednesday following TV channel reports that the team had been bought over.
'The reports are absolutely baseless. Neither has the group acquired Kings XI nor was it in talks for such an acquisition,' a spokesperson for the Hero Group told IANS in the capital.
Kings XI Punjab is co-owned by actor Preity and industrialists Ness Wadia, Karan Paul, and Mohit and Gaurav Burman. Kings XI Punjab is led by Kumar Sangakkara, while Tom Moody is the coach.
'It is not true -- totally baseless. We have not sold Kings XI Punjab to anyone. These are just speculations. We have no information regarding this,' added Anil Srivatsa, the chief executive of the franchisee, said reacting to reports.
'I don't know from where this news has emerged. We are also verifying from where these reports have come,' Srivatsa told IANS in Chandigarh.
Hero Honda also re-affirmed its association with the IPL and Delhi Daredevils, another franchisee.
'Hero Honda's association with IPL as an associate sponsor and the main team sponsor of Delhi Daredevils team remain unchanged,' it said in a statement.
The $3.5-billion Hero Group, which started operations as a small component company for the bicycle industry more than 50 years ago, is the largest manufacturer of two-wheelers in the world today and has a 21-year-old collaboration with Honda of Japan.
The group is a sponsor of several major sporting events, including a high-profile golf tournament and has set up the Hero Indian Sports Academy to recognise, build and award outstanding talent within the country.
The third edition of the IPL begins March 12 with holders Deccan Chargers taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai.
Multiplex chain INOX Cinemas restarted advance bookings for 'My Name is Khan' here Wednesday evening after shutting it down for much of the day due to the threat of violent protests by Shiv Sena activists.
'Advance booking is now on at our halls,' an official from INOX Cinemas told IANS.
Cinema halls in India's film capital had stopped advance bookings for the Shah Rukh Khan starrer following violent protests by Shiv Sena activists Tuesday. On Wednesday, the violence was restricted to tearing of hoardings, at least till the afternoon.
Multiplex chains like PVR and Cinemax halted their advance bookings for the film in the morning, as did single screen theatres like Mehul in Mulund and Shreyas in Ghatkopar, their officials said. Fun Cinemas also halted advance bookings.
Activists of the right wing Shiv Sena continued to demonstrate against the movie since Shah Rukh supported the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The activists have been vandalising cinema halls and tearing up hoardings, despite the Mumbai Police assuring security cover at the 63 cinema halls and multiplexes that are still scheduled to show the movie here from Friday.
Set in post 9/11 US, the film also features actress Kajol.
With more than 1,000 Shiv Sena workers being arrested for vandalism and the Maharashtra government rallying around the Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'My Name Is Khan', several theatre owners banked on the earnest assurances of security and reopened advance booking Wednesday evening.
The much-discussed film, targeted by the Shiv Sena after Shah Rukh spoke out for Pakistani cricketers being included in the Indian Premier League (IPL) would release across Mumbai this Friday under what will probably be an unprecedented security cover.
The Shiv Sena's grandstanding continued with leaders like Manohar Joshi saying that Shah Rukh 'would have to apologise' for his comments and that the party's struggle was in the 'national interest'. But the state government pulled out all the stops to ensure that it did not get away with its threats and that people felt safe enough to go watch the film.
More than 1,000 Shiv Sena workers were arrested from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning under various charges like trespassing and rioting, and Chief Minister Ashok Chavan reiterated: 'Providing security to all people is the duty of the government and we shall do it; nobody will be allowed to break the law.'
His home minister Ramesh Bagwe said strict action would be taken against those preventing 'patrons from taking the law in their hands'.
Mumbai Police guidelines were exhaustive - first three rows being kept vacant for security personnel who would also cover the foyer and other areas, an I-card check of all patrons, CCTV cameras inside and outside all theatres to record all activity and more.
Some theatre owners, who had hurriedly stopped advance bookings, did a rethink by the evening. Ticket counters at BIG Cinemas opened as did those at Fun Republic Cinemas.
Said Vishal Kapur, CEO of Fun Republic: 'Senior officers have assured full support and in lieu of tht we have opened the advance bookings as of now. We have have been constantly monitoring the situation because we hve to assure the safety of people.'
However, single screen theatres like Mehul in Mulund and Shreyas in Ghatkopar, which had been vandalised on Tuesday, continued to be undecided.
The film, directed by Karan Johar and also starring Kajol, is pitched as a blockbuster and the Shiv Sena's campaign could still affect its chances.
As Kapur put it, the bookings have been weak but 'I am sure on the day of the release it will be a different scenario'.
Said 22-year-old Priyanka Ukue: 'Despite the controversy we would love to go and watch the movie but when things settle down.'
Maya, a young professional, was more emphatic: 'The Sena has given themselves negative publicity. Even if 'My Name is Khan' is not a good film, it will get a good opening. Just for the sake of curiosity, people will go watch and give it good business.'
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's estranged daughter-in-law Smita seemed to echo her when she said: 'In a democracy, such things can be sorted out across the table. Nobody has the right to take the law in their own hands.'
Ironically, Shiv Sena leaders had unofficially backed down from the protests against the film Saturday, prompting Shah Rukh to tell reporters he was glad the party understood his point of view. But the U-turn came only too quickly.
Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, who faced the Shiv Sena's ire for saying he would have liked to include Pakistani players in his Kolkata Knight Riders team for the the third season of the Indian premier League (IPL), Monday got support from union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Answering queries from the media here on the issue, Mukherjee said nobody can tamper with anybody's freedom of speech and expression, which was a fundamental right in India.
'Freedom of speech and expression in any form is a fundamental right. In India, fundamental right is guaranteed by the constitution. Nobody can tamper with it,' Mukherjee said.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has expressed disappointment over the apparent snub to Pakistani players by Indian Premier League bidders.
"I truly believe Pakistan players should have been chosen," The Dawn quoted the Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner, as saying.
Although there were "some issues", the matter could have been handled by the IPL "respectfully", Khan said.
"They are the champions, they are wonderful but somewhere down the line there is an issue and we can't deny it," Khan said in an interview with a news channel.
No Pakistani player was bought by the eight Indian clubs during an auction on Tuesday for the third edition of the glitzy IPL.
Khan said it was humiliating to him as a KKR owner that no one bid for the Pakistani players despite them being put up for auction.
"We are known to invite everyone. We should have. If there were any issues, they should have been put on board earlier. Everything can happen respectfully. Everyday we blame Pakistan, everyday Pakistan blames us. It is an issue," he added.
Khan, who had five players from Pakistan playing for KKR in IPL's first edition, said the youth should avoid all that is said about India and Pakistan by the politicians.
"Pakistan is a great neighbour to have. We are great neighbours, They are good neighbours. Let us love each other. Let me be honest. My family is from Pakistan, my father was born there and his family is from there," he added.
It is showing it's true cricketing colours. And reportedly, will continue to do so for a year. Now, the IPL will not be restricted to just the 45 days of its run. COO Rajesh Kamat of Colors announced the association of the channel with the Indian Premier League and Lalit Modi.
Reportedly, the channel is already in talks with Akshay Kumar to host the special IPL Season of 'Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi'. "We are in talks with Akshay and hopefully he will greenlight it," declares Kamat sanguinely in a tabloid chat." We are working out the locations, dates and cricketers who could become participants on the show"
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