After Salman, Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgan eye IPL Team

With IPL turning out to be a major money spinner, Bollywood celebrities are keen to make big bucks by buying cricket teams. According to latest Bollywood news, it is believed that B-town hunk Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgan are eager to buy Ahemdabad IPL cricket team.
Talking to a newspaper, a close source confirmed the news of Sanjay and Ajay planning to buy an IPL team. "They have decided to own a team together as they are ardent cricket fans. They are keen to own the Ahmedabad team. Since Ajay was busy travelling, he informed Sanjay about being unable to meet IPL Commissioner, Lalit Modi. It was Sanjay who met Modi and expressed their interest to own a team. Modi and Sanjay met at a suburban five-star on Wednesday to understand the bidding process. Sanjay made it very clear that whenever the auction begins, they are ready to invest in the Ahmedabad team," the source said.

However, when Dutt met Lalit Modi at a posh Mumbai hotel, the actor was taken by complete surprise as he had no idea that media would be waiting for him at the same venue. It is believed that media is informed every time a Bollywood star wishes to buy an IPL team. The source maintained, “The idea is to let it be known that big stars are getting progressively involved with the IPL. That attracts more money, eyeballs and junta interest. So on Wednesday evening when Dutt reached the Hyatt he was taken aback to see media persons swarming the place. His first impulse was to flee.”

However, it is believed that the meeting between Dutt and Modi was a great success where the former discussed his curiosities about buying an IPL team. The source added, “Sanjay’s main concern was, would he be able to buy the team because of his court cases? There are many things that he can’t do, like endorsements, etc. Sanjay was assured there would be no problem. With the removal of TADA charges Dutt now has rights equal to every other Indian citizen.”

After Shah Rukh, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty dabbling in IPL, it’s Sanjay and Ajay’s turn to invest in an IPL team!

Shilpa, Katrina to Crown Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa

Johannesburg: Bollywood actresses Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif will help decide which of 16 South African hopefuls follow in their footsteps when the Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa is crowned at the prestigious Montecasino entertainment complex here Saturday evening.



Shilpa and Katrina will join former Miss Universe Michelle McLean and former Miss South Africa Joanne Strauss, now a TV presenter, as the finalists vie for a prize package that could also feature an audition for a Bollywood role.


Providing a gender balance to the panel of celebrity judges will be Fashion TV owner Michele Adam and Francois Pienaar, who led the South African side to victory in the Rugby World Cup some years ago. Pienaar has also played an instrumental role in the marketing campaign that made the Indian Premier League (IPL) so popular in South Africa for the past five weeks.


The 16 finalists were chosen by Internet votes and include models, actresses, professionals and students. They were chosen from the 48 who were selected from the crowds at each of the IPL games played across the country.


The prize package includes a cash prize of 50,000 rands, a trip to India, and a guided tour of Bollywood, including the possibility of an audition there.

Katrina cheers for RCB Boys!

IPL is the ultimate package of glamour and entertainment, and how! Katrina Kaif with the winner of the RCB contest Fans of Royal Challengers had a double delight in store last Thursday when they were treated to a first-of-a-kind experience with a special screening of their team’s match against Chennai Super Kings in the DLF IPL league.

RCB fans also had a special opportunity to interact with Bollywood queen and brand ambassador for Royal Challengers, Katrina Kaif who showed her support for her team.

She was at the ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai, especially to spend time with her fans. She was seen cheering and supporting her favourite team along with hundreds of RCB fans during the game, presented by the RCB’s proud sponsor and Game for Challenge partner, Royal Challenge.

Highlighting the activity, VK Rekhi, President and Managing Director, United Spirits Limited, part of the UB Group, said, “Keeping in sync with the brand’s image, we wanted to create an exceptional level of engagement and experience for all Royal Challengers fans. We felt the need to interact with the team fan base to encourage and garner support throughout the tournament. The format of the campaign was to engage the fans and institute a personal communication between them and their favourite team. Katrina as a brand ambassador and known celebrity in the country was a perfect fit.”

Ten lucky winners of the Royal Challengers contest were felicitated by Royal Challenge and received personally autographed team jerseys from Katrina Kaif during the event. So, if you are an RCB supporter, get ready to be bowled over by the queen of Bollywood who is enjoying her stay in India watching the DLF IPL with the RCB fans. For sure, the upcoming matches are going to get thrilling, thanks to Royal Challenge.

Deccan miss a Trick, Yuvraj Ticks

Rohit Sharma repeated his Saturday night's blitzkrieg but Deccan Chargers failed to end up with a victory this time.

Yuvraj Singh stole the thunder from the Hyderabad batsman as Kings XI Punjab registered a thrilling win to stay alive in the tournament. The Punjab captain's hat-trick - his second in the tournament - kept alive the semifinal hopes of his side. With 44 needed of 18 balls, Rohit went on a six-hitting spree. One of his three sixes came off an immaculate flick off of Brett Lee which was a visual delight.

The Kings XI bowlers had little clue over the line and length to bowl to him. With four needed off just four balls, Rohit, the hero so far, ended up being the tragic hero. He went for an ambitious shot off Irfan Pathan and ended up giving his wicket. Rest of his teammates failed to connect the ball properly as Kings XI registered a much needed win with the lowest margin possible.

Incidentally, with three needed off the last ball, Ryan Harris, after completing two runs, failed to turn for the crucial third that would have tied the match to leave Deccan fans exasperated. It looked like one for the Chargers till Yuvraj unleashed three magic balls - one off his second over and two off his third over - to send back Gibbs, Symonds and Venugopala Rao.

But Yuvraj was not done with the hat-trick yet. He was in his elements on the field with good bowling changes and field placements. He even fielded at his customary point position for some time. The Punjab team clearly looked the hungrier of the sides.

If Yuvraj managed a hat-trick, Ramesh Powar missed it. But the offie's two wickets - of Adam Gilchrist and T Suman - were as crucial as Powar's double strike in the fifth over put brakes on Hyderabad's march.

Earlier, Kumara Sangakkara anchored the Punjab innings to perfection. His 56 off 43 balls gave his bowlers a defendable target.

With Punjab and Deccan on same points, their last round matches against Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively will decide their fate in the tournament. The battle has just hotted up.

Internet voting to decide Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa Finalists

Forty-eight young South African women are holding thumbs to see which 16 of them will go through to the finals of the Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa to be held at the Wanderers in Johannesburg next Sunday.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been selecting one finalist at every game to eventually have six women representing each of the eight teams in the series that is being played out in South Africa.

Voting for the 48 finalists started at midnight on Saturday, with votes closing at 18:00 SA time on Monday evening. Fans can cast their votes at the website www.iplt20.com.

The 16 finalists will all feature in a contest before the final game at the Wanderers next Sunday to vie for a prize of 50,000 rands in cash, a flight to India, and a guided tour through Bollywood that initially was also expected to include an audition for a Bollywood role, but that still appears to be uncertain.

The finalists include budding lawyers, accountants and auditors; businesswomen, students,, models, actresses, teachers and a radiographer.

The final two contestants were announced Saturday during games in Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.

One of them was 24-year-old Phylicia Ramdin of Glenanda, south of Johannesburg. She was picked from the crowd attending the clash between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Deccan Chargers held at the Wanderers.

Ramdin is currently an insurance analyst but is determined to become a successful businesswoman: "I'm enthusiastic, positive and goal driven. I believe we need to always have a positive outlook on life and go after what you want with determination."

"The IPL has been great, watching the cricketing talent, team strategies and the unity of the crowds that come to watch", added Ramdin.

Earlier on Saturday Rohini Jaga of Port Elizabeth was selected as a contestant in the Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa competition during the DLF IPL game held at St. George's Park.

Jaga, 20, who has a passion for figures and is currently a B.Com Accounting student at the University of Port Elizabeth, recently went on holiday to India: "My dad studied in India and took us on a journey through the subcontinent. It was vastly different to places I have visited before. I was very taken with the culture; it's truly a land of contrasts and beauty."

Miss Bollywood contest Heating up

The search for Miss Bollywood SA is heating up, with just over 2 weeks to go before a winner is chosen. Amongst the latest contestants looking to become Miss Bollywood SA is Avashnee Vandiar of Rivonia, north of Johannesburg.The lucky DLF IPL spectator was selected during the clash between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians at the Wanderers, on Sunday. The 22-year-old marketing and media student is a big cricket fan.

"The atmosphere at the DLF IPL matches is fun. I enjoy the socialising and being around all the excitement," she said.

Avashnee will represent the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the search for Miss Bollywood SA. While driving to the Wanderers earlier in the day Avashnee had joked with her friends about the possibility of becoming a contestant. "I'm honoured to have been selected, what a great opportunity," she added.

Avashnee is keen to advance to the finals of the Miss Bollywood SA competition. She's already starred in one locally made movie and now she wants the chance to feature in a Bollywood spectacular. A Bollywood movie role, business class trip to India and a guided tour through Bollywood are amongst the prizes up for grabs in the Miss Bollywood SA contest.

Also hoping to snag the title is 18-year-old Shelley Fourie of Jeffrey's Bay in the Eastern Cape. She was chosen during the earlier DLF IPL match in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, she represents the Kolkata Knight Riders in the search for Miss Bollywood SA. The 18-year-old describes herself as a sports fanatic. "I love cricket, I regularly attend matches at St George's Park during the cricket season," she said. Shelly is a keen follower of the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

"The DLF IPL has brought cricket to life, it's an exciting spectacle which the whole family can enjoy," she added. Her top cricketer is South African Dale Steyn. The ambitious young cricket fan hopes to become a commercial pilot.

Also attending the Port Elizabeth match was 22-year-old Chanel Bettison, who was selected as a Miss Bollywood SA contestant, during the final DLF IPL match held at Newlands, in Cape Town at the end of April.

"20/20 cricket is fast and lively, I love the characters in the game, especially Shane Warne, whom I got to meet once very briefly," she excitedly added. She represents the Kings Xi Punjab in further stages of the competition. Chanel would love to win the title, so she could go to India, which she thinks will be an awesome experience.