Saif-Kareena upset with IPL bid cancellation

The power couple was interested in bidding for an IPL team (Pune) along with Karisma and Sanjay Kapur. A sudden change of rules ruined the plan

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were to buy an Indian Premier League (IPL) team. Not any more, it seems. The chote nawab is upset that the bidding was cancelled at the last moment and that new regulations were suddenly brought in.


The auction took place in Mumbai yesterday. Saif and Kareena were present at the bidding for new teams (Pune, Nagpur and Ahmedabad). It is learnt that the duo along with Kareena's sister Karisma Kapoor and her husband Sanjay Kapur and Videocon's Venugopal Dhoot are interested in buying the Pune team. Now, with the auction being cancelled and a change of rules set to take place, Saif's very upset and isn't interested in bidding anymore.

Says Saif, "Yes, we were interested in buying the Pune team but the bidding process was cancelled and the rules were changed. Kareena and I had submitted our bid and there was one other person but Lalit (Modi) cancelled it. It would've been great if we could have bought the Pune team and entered the IPL as I love cricket too (his dad is one of India's former cricket captains, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi)."

An investment
A fresh auction will now be held eight days later, but the chote nawab may not place a bid. Saif says bluntly, "Whether we will still be interested or not will depend on how the rules have changed and what value the teams will be sold at. It has to be at a certain price. It's an investment for us and we have to buy something that's worth something. We can't end up losing money if it's not a sound investment."

Saif feels that there are many reasons for the cancellation of the auction. "It's all internal trade, internal issues within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the IPL and big business and politics (involving Chief Ministers) and heads of multi-national companies -- something that's beyond my understanding."

A new system
Elaborating on what made the couple change their minds, Khan says, "The whole bid was cancelled with no explanations given. It's politics and big business. In the new system, you don't need to be a billionaire or have 100 million in your bank account as guarantee to bid for an IPL team. In the last bidding, when the Pune and Ahmedabad teams were being auctioned only two people were bidding for the teams. Now with the changed scenario, there will be many bidders for one team.

Saif's father, the Nawab of Pataudi, is a member of the Governing Council of the IPL. Maybe he could talk to him? Saif says, "My father isn't part of this... It's something to do with the BCCI and Lalit Modi."

FACTS
Preity Zinta, Shahrukh Khan and Shilpa Shetty are B-Towners who already own IPL teams. It was rumoured that Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn were also keen on buying IPL teams.


New IPL rules
Earlier only groups with a net worth of $1 billion (approx Rs 4,500+ crores) were proposed to be allowed, and the bidders had to provide a bank guarantee of $100m to just participate in the bidding process. These two clauses have been dropped for the new bidding scheduled for March 21. Modi has now set a new condition that a $10 million advance performance deposit would be submitted 24 hours in advance by March 20. The successful bidders would also need to be ready to pay 10% of the amount that they bid, within 48 hours of being awarded the franchise. The base price of each team would now be $225m .

The Making of Housefull releasing before the film

The director of the much-awaited film Housefull, Sajid Khan, is leaving no stone unturned to ascertain that the movie becomes the biggest hit of the year. In fact, knowing that the audience may not be able to wait till April 30, when the movie release, he has decided to launch the Making of the movie.

Buzz up!
“The making will be released way before the release of the film,” Sajid confirms. “It will be released in high definition, since I believe that the movie and the making are equally important. The audience will look forward to the movie, once they see the making, which is also an entertaining presentation,” he adds.


Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Eros International, Housefull is in the news all the time, and for all the right reasons. Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deskmukh, Deepika Padukone and Lara Dutta play the lead roles in the film.

Topics: housefull, sajid khan, akshay kumar, riteish deskmukh, deepika padukone, lara dutta.

Shilpa-Raj's Valentine's Day plans

Raj Kundra will be whisking off Shilpa Shetty to an undisclosed destination on Valentine's Day. Shilpa Shetty and hubby Raj Kundra have planned special surprises for each other this Valentine's Day. Shilpa says, "I have no idea what Raj has planned for us. All I know is that Raj has told my manager to keep February 12-14 free on my diary and to keep me flight-ready. I think it's most probably Dubai. I have planned something special for him too -- but that's a surprise I will reveal only to him."

Buzz up!
However, when it comes to being romantic, she says Raj is the clear winner, "Raj wins hands down. He's a planner and has the most romantic things planned down to the utmost detail. I remember last year after we had made the Rajasthan Royals announcement on Valentine's Day, Raj had whisked me off to Goa." As the actress' dad is very conservative she lied to him about why she was going out of town. Now that Shilpa is married to Raj, dad won't mind knowing the truth.


Raj hired an entire golf course and arranged for a candlelight dinner. Also, for a ghazal singer to perform live, and finally a 15-minute firework display. At the time, the actress thought it was an appalling waste of money but she basked in all the attention. And she knows that he will plan something bigger this year!

The actress insists that Raj isn't any different as a husband. He's the same as he was in their courtship days, "If there are any changes, it's that we are more committed to each other today. Priorities change and it's great to rush back home by 6 pm to be with the man you love. Also, I don't work on Sundays. I have been working on Sundays my whole life but now I make it a point to be with him -- we go out for brunch -- but it's mostly a simple affair. In retrospect, I feel I should have got married a long time ago..."

She insists that Valentine's Day is like any other day in their life, "I know it sounds cheesy but I say this from my heart -- Raj and I celebrate every day. We just enjoy spending time with each other. The only day that's special for us is our wedding anniversary (November 22)." Raj and Shilpa return on February 15 to prepare for the launch of their Rajasthan Royals music video, merchandise and new T-shirt in Jaipur the next day.

Topics: shilpa shetty, raj kundra, rajasthan royals.

Amitabh is brand ambassador of Gujarat state

Amitabh Bachchan has finally made a new Gujarati connection. Yes! He is now the brand ambassador of the state of Gujarat. He has lent his voice and his face for the promotion and development of a state that prides itself in having one of the finest infrastructures
and speedy development in almost all the sectors. This was the essential reason why Mr. Bachchan even suggested being associated with the state.

During a special screening of his film Paa that took place in Gujarat for some of the senior dignitaries, Big B was so impressed with Mr. Modi and Gujarat that he made an offer to do whatever he could to further the cause of tourism and development in the state. Taking the offer on a serious note, Mr. Modi sent a letter to Big B offering him the post of Gujarat's brand ambassador which he accepted in all humility.

So, be ready to see the senior Bachchan promoting tourism in Gujarat.

Topics: amitabh bachchan, paa.

Related Movies: Teen Patti (amitabh bachchan, Raima sen)

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Shahrukh Khan honoured in Hollywood

Nevada (US) (ANI): Bollywood’s megastar Shahrukh Khan’s lifelike wax figure was reportedly unveiled at renowned Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Hollywood (USA) today. Filmfare winner Shahrukh (Chak De India!), 44, is the first Bollywood star to be inducted into this Museum, which boasts of wax figures of celebrities like Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Johnny Depp, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Beyonce, David Beckham, etc.

Buzz up!
Museum calls Shahrukh’s induction as “historic addition” and adds that it “symbolizes a coming together of the world''s two great film centers, Hollywood and Bollywood”. Shahrukh, who is said to have starred in over 70 movies and is also a producer and television presenter, was named by Newsweek magazine as one of the 50 most powerful people in the world. His "My Name is Khan"(Karan Johar) is set for release on February 12.

Welcoming coming closer of Hollywood-Bollywood with this induction, Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that the collaboration of world’s two major film industries on various aspects was a step in the right direction. Cinema was a powerful medium and Hollywood-Bollywood engagement, if utilized positively, could bring East and West closer, Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added.

The unveiling today was reportedly accompanied by a performance of America’s Bollywood dance troupe Ishaara, a recent America's Got Talent contender.

Topics: shahrukh khan, madame tussauds, chak de india, audrey hepburn, clark gable, jennifer lopez, nicole kidman, johnny depp, alfred hitchcock, steven spielberg, beyonce, david beckham.


Related Movies: My Name Is Khan (shahrukh khan, Kajol), The Back-up Plan (Alex OLoughlin, jennifer lopez), Nine (Daniel Day Lewis, nicole kidman), Alice in Wonderland (johnny depp, Anne Hathaway), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett)

Ajay delays Atithi for Aseem Bajaj

Ajay Devgn pushes back his own film's release date because his friend Aseem Bajaj requested him to . The release date of Amita Pathak's debut production, Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? starring Ajay Devgn, Konkona Sen Sharma and Paresh Rawal, has been pushed back from February 26 to March 5.

Buzz up!
Says a source, "Ajay Devgn is very close to cinematographer Aseem Bajaj. Ajay can never refuse friends and bails them out when in trouble. When Aseem was in hospital last year, Ajay had arranged for his entire medical stay there, including his doctor. Aseem's wife Leena, is the director of Teen Patti and Ajay and the couple go back a long way. Aseem was to direct Ajay's home production All The Best but as he had given the dates for Atithi and had to refuse. Aseem is also the DoP (director of photography) for Atithi."


The source adds, "Leena's Teen Patti was to release on February 12 but because of some problems cannot. The producers of Teen Patti got a release date of February 26 but apart from Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?, Karthik Calling Karthik is also scheduled to release on the same day. So Aseem and Leena approached Ajay and executive producer Kumar Mangat Pathak and requested them personally to postpone the film. She told them that Teen Patti had already been pushed back and it would help them if Atithi could be pushed back. Ajay graciously agreed to release their film on March 5."

Says Amita Pathak, "Yes we have been in talks with Aseem and Leena. Since the three films are of different genres, releasing all of them on the same day would cut into their individual markets. We decided to postpone the film.

We didn't want the films to clash. Also Teen Patti had already pushed back their date once, so we decided that we should do it this time. We took the decision to postpone Atithi on Sunday evening. We have made some changes to the film and shot the promo song with Ajay, Paresh and Konkona. The film is complete. The promo should come out next week."

Topics : ajay devgn, konkona sen sharma, atithi tum kab jaaoge, aseem bajaj.

Related Movies : Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? (Ajay Devgan, konkona sen sharma)