Shahrukh's Knight Riders Won Final Battle

Skipper Sourav Ganguly (86*) led from the front to beat Kings XI Punjab by three wickets in their Indian Premier League tie at the Eden Gardens.

Chasing 176 runs, Kolkata got off to a good start until Sreesanth rocked Salman Butt and Debabrata Das in his successive deliveries. Butt contributed 24 runs in 18 balls while Das returned without scoring.

David Hussey (12) continued his poor form against the spin bowling. Piyush Chawla rocked his middle stump comprehensively. Laxmi Shukla too did not last long and lost his timber to VRV Singh in the 10th over.

Earlier, Kings XI Punjab rode on rollicking knocks by Kumar Sangakkara (64) and Shaun Marsh (40) to pile up 174 for 6 in their Indian Premier League tie against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.

Coming together after the early loss of James Hopes, Marsh and Sangakkara added a brisk 83 runs of only 57 deliveries to put their side in the drivers' seat before a crowd of 30,000 at the Eden Gardens.

Sangakkara was especially brilliant, letting loose several delicate shots all over the park earning huge applause from the spectators, who relished every minute of his brilliant batting.

Marsh, one of the principal scorers of the tourney, executed some power-packed shots before holing out to long off, giving Sri Lankan off spinner Ajantha Mendis his first wicket of the IPL on his debut.

Umar Gul (4/23), the pick of the Knight Riders bowlers, finally got rid of Sangakkara, as the Sri Lankan played across the line to a delivery that pitched on the good length spot and came further in and rapped the willower on the pad, as the visitors became 133 for 3.

Yuvraj Singh then played a cameo, adding 31 runs with Mahela Jayawardene (11 not out) before the former got run out following a horrible mix up.

The Kings XI seemed well positioned for a 180 plus total, as they reached 170 for 4 after the penultimate over, but Gul's superlative bowling at the death restricted them to a run rate of 8.7 per over. Gul not only conceded only four runs, but also was on a hat-trick, as he picked up Irfan Pathan (7) and Piyush Chawla (0) of back-to-back deliveries. It was left to Tanmay Srivastava to thwart Gul's feat.

Young pacer Ishant Sharma, a find for the Indian team during their tour to Australia earlier this year, once again was lacklustre conceding 49 runs in his quota of four overs.

SRK meets Buddhadeb before Knights' match

KOLKATA: Film star and owner of IPL cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders Shah Rukh Khan called on West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee prior to his team's last match at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.

During his 45-minute meeting with the chief minister in his ante-chamber at the state secretariat, the Bollywood icon, accompanied by his team's co-owner Juhi Chawla, discussed cricket and films in which the two hold common interest.

Shah Rukh, dressed in black trousers, white shirt and steel gray coat and Juhi in hot pink salwar suit, discussed with Bhattacharjee how to develop the film industry in keeping with the rapid change in viewership profile and technology.

Though SRK did not meet the press after the meeting, chief ministers' secretariat sources said that he also discussed development of cricket, particularly its new format T-20. The need for more cricket academies to develop the sport was also a topic.

Only such academies could prepare a new breed of cricketers for the T-20 avatar, SRK is said to have observed while committing himself to strengthen his IPL team next year.

Shah Rukh, accompanied by Juhi and her husband Joy Mehta, arrived at the state secretariat at 12:45 pm in a white Mercedes and went straight to the chief minister's ante-chamber where city police commissioner Goutam Mohan Chakraborty was also present.

While the star presented a golden helmet of his knights to Bhattacharjee, the chief minister in return presented them export quality Darjeeling tea.

"No one can match Shah Rukh," says Priyadarshan

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and director Priyadarshan have hit it off big time, be it cinema or cricket.

'After working with him I understand why he is who he is. No one can match his energy, enthusiasm and passion for cinema. I'm already planning many more films with him,' Priyadarshan told IANS.

Also, ever since Shah Rukh's Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders won a Kolkata match last month that was attended by Priyadarshan, people have started calling him the actor's lucky mascot.

'Yes, they're saying I'm lucky for Shah Rukh. Thank god. Yes, Shah Rukh has asked me to attend more of his matches. But I've been shooting 'Billo Barber' whereas he has completed his work and has made time for the IPL,' Priyadarshan told IANS.

Many people who attended the match were surprised to see Priyadarshan sitting quietly in the audience.

'Even I was surprised to see myself there, but I went for Shah Rukh's sake. Fortunately, the Knight Riders won the match that day when I was there in Kolkata.

'Or people would've said I'm unlucky for Shah Rukh. Can't afford that image while I've cast him in the most unusual role of his career, and that too after four failed attempts to work with him.'

Incidentally, Kolkata Night Riders are out of IPL matches.

Recalling his own passion for cricket, Priyadarshan said: 'I was a mad obsessive cricket player as a student. Then during one local match I nearly lost my eye.'

Recalling the harrowing incident, he shudders, 'I can never forget that day. The ball just slammed against my eye. I had a hairline fracture and I couldn't see. I thought I had lost my eye. Fortunately, the eye is intact. But the nerves on the eyelid were enfeebled. So one eye is half-closed all the time.'

So has that mishap put him off cricket for keeps?

'No way! I love cricket. Thankfully, I didn't make a career out of it. Otherwise today I'd have been working in a bank. The only reason why I don't play is because I'm making films round the clock. There's no time for anything else,' said the director whose recent hit was 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa'.

IANS

Kajol has agreed to star opposite Shah Rukh Khan

Kareena Kapoor can put her hopes of being cast in My Name Is Khan to complete rest. For finally Karan Johar’s first choice Kajol has agreed to do the film. Kajol gave the nod to the project on Thursday.

A source close to Kajol’s husband, Ajay Devgan, tells us, “Kajol indeed took a long time to take a call on her participation in Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan, but the problem was that she had not heard the script in detail. This week, she took a long look at the script and finally said ‘yes’.”

“Karan and Kajol go back a long way. Their dosti is not only friendship but respect for each other as well. Kajol could not have refused the film outright,” the insider further says.

So how will Kajol adjust to the US schedule? Will her daughter Nysa accompany her? Wasn’t that one of the reasons why Kajol took long to give her nod of consent? “Well, that all will be sorted out. Kajol has worked out how to look after Nysa during that period. Whether Nysa will go with Kajol or not is still not known,” our source adds.

We sent a text message to KJo (as Karan is fondly called in the industry), but he did not reply.

My Name Is Khan, directed by Karan Johar, stars Karan’s best buddy, Shah Rukh (who co-produces My Name Is Khan) in the male lead.

The only time Shah Rukh and Kareena have been romantically paired earlier was in Asoka the Great (2001), which too was produced in part by Shah Rukh Khan.

Vickey Lalwani, Mumbai Mirror

'I love being SRK's princess'

Being a part of reality game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is the best thing to have happened to her, says 11-year-old child actor Shriya Sharma.

"Shah Rukh is my favourite actor and I love being his princess. Being on Paanchvi Paas has been my best experience," Shriya said on phone from Mumbai.

She is ga-ga over the actor who lovingly calls her his "princess" on the show.

"He is so friendly and sometimes when we don't know an answer on the show, he really encourages us. We have our kids' room at the sets, so he also comes and plays with us there," she said.

SRK takes the blame for Paanchvi Pass failure

A disappointed and mystified Shah Rukh Khan took full responsibility for the poor ratings of 'Kya Aap Panchvi Pass Se Tez Hain,' Star TV's reality quiz show hosted by him.

Admitting that he is the major draw of the show, Shah Rukh told journalists on its set in suburban Mumbai :

"Even in my films, it is said that it will get a good opening because I am there. If I consider the same yardstick, a star of my caliber should have brought enough audiences before the television set. If there is no opening and lack of appeal for the show despite my presence, then I think I am responsible."

"May be the format was not appealing, but we were bound by the original format," he added, referring to a contractual obligation to adhere to the format of the parent show - Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? .

"There are no options for a question on this show. This brings loneliness where as giving options sees involvement of more than one person. Some have not liked that the contestant at the time of dropping out of the contest, being asked to say that 'hum paanchvi pass se tez nahi hain'"

However, Shah Rukh said that both show producers Star TV and he planned to hold the course and see if the end of IPL season buoyed the show's rating.

Some of the other possible reasons for the poor ratings, he said, could be its relatively early airing (8pm) and the perception that it was a children's show.

Asked if he was unnerved by the poor response Shah Rukh joked, "May be next time I may not be signed for a television show paid a much lower fee."

Sawf News

Shahrukh gets a mother from Kolkata

Shah Rukh: A true sportsman

The recent cricket season proved that Shah Rukh Khan is a true sportsman.

His team may have let him down, but there was never a frown on his forehead. The actor was there cheering his team all the way through, like true sportsman. In fact, after every defeat, SRK made it a point to party with the players just as he would when they won a match. The players may not have got the trophy for the owner but Shah Rukh made sure they went home with a neat packet and loads of gifts.

In fact his message box is full of smses from the players not only of his team but even other teams praising him as a human being and a sportsman. Now who can blame him for his rising popularity? In fact, his colleagues should learn a lesson or two from King Khan on sportsmanship!

'I have paid my players to win. Will I pay them now to lose'

The defeat of his Knights in the Indian Premier League seems to have left the team owner King Khan with a bitter aftertaste. The first season of the Indian Premier League will be now remembered for Shahrukh Khan's tirades, which show no sign of easing.

Still apparently in a fit of sulks, Khan has lashed at the IPL, saying on Thursday (May 22) that he hadn't paid his team to lose, but to win.

Khan had felt quite at home among his Knights - so much so he wouldn't budge an inch from their side. But then one fine evening he was asked by the authorities to keep his beloved team at arm's length - the actor was miffed, and swift came the first salvo in these words:

"My hanging around in the dressing room, is apparently 'anti-Anti-Corruption'. I'm like, listen, don't tell me that I am corrupt...let CBI, ICC Code of Conduct team - anybody - dare try to stop me from meeting my team for every match."

Khan was then provided with a solution - following the tradition of handing out purple and orange caps to the players, IPL announced a red, all-area accreditation badge to one member of each of the eight franchisees, to be given by the ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) which gave them access to the team dugout and dressing room as well.

But Khan did not take the bait provided by the officials and was absent from the very next match.

Subsequently the Kolkata Knight Riders were knocked out of the IPL, and afterwards the Kolkata team came under some battery. The egotist in the showman came out and the second salvo hit when it mattered; Khan's supposed SMS to his team, which took another dig at the IPL, has become a public dossier.

The message comes close to ridiculing the IPL governing body. Khan says he has again decided not to come on the ground till he figures out the "headmaster's rules".

"I am still trying to understand the code of conduct expected of me at the matches of the IPL.... ICC... Etc.... After I understand it, I will decide whether to accept it or not.... Till such time, I will be with you guys at the hotel... in the meetings etc., but won't come for the matches.... So, please don't ever feel it is anything to do with us as a team," read the SMS which was published by The Telegraph.

What is more, Khan has since been crying foul wherever he goes. The latest was outside the studio of his popular TV show.

Reiterating that he was not corrupt, SRK lashed out at the governing body saying he has paid his players to win and not to lose.

"I have paid my players to win. Will I pay them now to lose? This is illogical," he said yesterday (May 22). He added, "Why pick me? Other team owners are seen near their players. Is it because I am a celebrity and vulnerable?"

All in all, it's a joy that has gone haywire, a tale that was scripted, hit an incredible high only to turn a damp squib within two weeks.

Times Now

“SRK is not my backslapping buddy,”says Karan Johar

You go all out for Shah Rukh Khan. Recently, you came back all the way from Miami to attend his first IPL match and postponed your own film to accommodate Aditya Chopra's film with SRK.
Yes. But isn't that a given in any friendship? Shah Rukh is like family for me. I'm quite petrified of Shah Rukh and he knows it. He is not my backslapping buddy. His wife Gauri is the one who is more of a friend. She's the one I can say, ‘Oh, Shut up!’ to but even in my wildest dreams, I can't imagine telling SRK to shut up.

But, will SRK do as much for you as you do for him?
I want to reach a point where I don't expect anything in return. I have full faith in my relationships and believe that they will never disappoint me.

So, no more formula-based films from you?
My Name Is Khan is an exciting project. For the first time, I'm directing a film that has characters and situations I'm not familiar with. I think I'm the wrong man to direct this film.

So who do think should be directing My Name Is Khan?
Mani Ratnam, Rakeysh Mehra or Raju Hirani but certainly not me. But, I'm hundred per cent sure I can pull it off.

Can you ever make a film without Shah Rukh Khan?
I wouldn't like to think about it. Of course it can happen. One can never predict where life will take us...