Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has taken to Twitter to deny pregnancy rumours, saying that she is “sick and tired” of the media speculation about her personal life.

The 36-year-old actress who is married to NRI businessman Raj Kundhra, has rubbished reports claiming that the couple have already prepared a nursery for their “bundle of joy”.

“Sick and tired of all the congratulatory msgs and calls, so for the last time ‘I am not pregnant’. All this is so annoying (sic),” the actress wrote on the micro-blogging website.

Shilpa who is the co-owner of the IPL team, Rajasthan Royals, along with her husband of two years, added, “To all my followers ‘If how and when I want to make any personal announcement, is entirely my (not the press) prerogative! As of now there’s none to make (sic).”

The actress also requested the press to respect her privacy. “I do know I am in the public domain, and everyones curious, but these are sensitive issues, hence wud appreciate the press respects my privacy (sic),” she tweeted.

Shahrukh Khan, threw a lavish party at his mansion Mannat in bandstand last night for his IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders.

Since, the Pune Warriors and the Deccan Chargers were in Mumbai, the actor decided to show them a good time after their well fought match.

And since, cricket and Bollywood are inseparable since times immemorial, and more so during the IPL, Khan decided to spice up the party by inviting his friends from the film fraternity as well – including Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor, Suzanne and Hrithik Roshan. Apparently, even Dada aka Sourav Ganguly made it to the guest list.

Now, we all know why inviting Dada automatically makes this party interesting. Sourav Ganguly, who led Khan’s KKR for three years, was rudely left out during this IPL’s auctions.

The former captain of the Indian cricket team would have missed IPL altogether had Pune not picked him up.

Last night, while the usual faces at a SRK party Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor, Suzanne and Hrithik Roshan were invited, the cricketers from KKR Gautam Gambhir, Jacques Kallis, Brett Lee, Yousuf Pathan and Mark Boucher also headed Mannat-wards.

After their match at DY Patil Stadium, players of the Deccan Chargers and Pune Warriors also joined the bash.

“SRK’s parties are much talked about. However, last night was something different, since Khan had invited the cricketers as well as Bollywood at his residence.

While he invited everyone from his team, he also extended a friendly hand to the cricketers from Pune Warriors and Deccan Chargers. Obviously, he couldn’t leave out Sourav.”

We don’t not know whether Dada actually made it to the party, putting the past behind. But we promise we’ll let you know the moment we find out.

Team Punjab’s Praveen Kumar opens up to Hyderabad Times about his lucky charm, loyalties that mean nothing, and yes, Preity Zinta.

How is it going in the IPL so far? Is it getting tough?

No, not at all! In fact, I am enjoying every moment of the IPL. We are seventh in the points table, but we are hopeful of a way up.

How much have you been able to interact with your owner Preity Zinta?

We have such a packed schedule that there is hardly any time left for interactions. She does come to meet us sometimes during team meetings and she is always there at the stadium to cheer us, it feels so good. And yes, Preity is gorgeous!

How much of cricket do you think Preity understands?

I think she does understand cricket, not just because she is an owner of the team but also because she follows matches closely.

You played for team Bangalore for the last three years and you are now playing for Punjab, how difficult is it to shift loyalties?

There is no loyalty as such in IPL. The format is such that teams are expected to change. It was Bangalore for three seasons and I gave it my best. But now my team is Punjab. It’s like my family.

How does it feel to be captained by Adam Gilchrist?

Oh! It’s a fantastic feeling. He is such a great cricketer and a very good human being. He is available 24X7 for any help that you need – whether it is related to cricket or any personal problem. He does not make you feel that he is larger than life. We have lots of masti during practice or in the greenroom.

You recently lost your gold chain and refused to go to the stadium. What if you didn’t find the chain, would you not play?

Of course, I would go to the stadium even if I didn’t find the chain. But the loss would have been playing on my mind even as I played. It is not good to lose gold.

Is there any other lucky charm that you carry?

I feel my wife is lucky for me. She came to watch our match in Punjab and we won that. I think she should be there for every match of ours, that way we will win all the matches. I must tell her that! (laughs)

The Indian Premier League (IPL), in all its four editions, has turned out to be a marriage of cricket and glamour. On Saturday, Bollywood heartthrob Priyanka Chopra was at the Eden Gardens here to watch the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)- Kings XI Punjab match.

Priyanka was seen enjoying every moment of the action, sitting beside KKR co-owner and megastar Shah Rukh Khan.

She applauded every stroke but seen most happy when KKR got wickets. “Oh, I am really enjoying the game. KKR is doing great,” she said.

On a high after KKR got success in previous game, Shah Rukh said, “We have regained the momentum. We are performing much better this year. We will surely do well.”

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who turns 38 Sunday, has decided not to celebrate his birthday and remains doubtful for the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Deccan Chargers here in view of the worsening condition of the spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba.

Tendulkar is an ardent devotee of the 85-year-old Baba, whose condition is very critical.

Tendulkar said he is praying for Baba’s quick recovery.

“I am praying for Shri Sathya Sai Baba’s quick recovery. Hope everyone will join me in praying for his return to good health,” Tendulkar said on Twitter.

The Mumbai Indians captain did not arrive with the team Saturday for the match against Deccan Chargers here Sunday, but is expected to come later in the day, according to sources in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

He is, however, uncertain for the match and has also decided not to celebrate his birthday, sources said.

“He may stay away from Sunday’s match so that he can visit Puttaparthi, the pilgrim town in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, in case of any eventuality,” sources said.

Tendulkar, who has visited Puttaparthi on several occasions to seek Baba’s blessings, had planned a party in the hotel to celebrate his birthday. The Mumbai Indians management and HCA officials had even made some arrangements for the party.

Bengali actress Riya Sen, who is the brand ambassador for IPL’s Kochi Tuskers, was in dilemma about which team to cheer for last evening when Kochi Tuskers were up against Kolkata Knight Riders.

‘Today’s match being between my heart and soul …a much anticipated one…gotta lose some to gain some,’ she tweeted. She posted a picture of herself with Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (left), and also one with her sister Raima.

Raima, meanwhile, did not have to face any such dilemma, and openly supported KKR.

Sushmita Sen, on the other hand, cheered for both teams. ‘Now this is an EXCITING match!!! GO KKR..GO KOCHI!!!! Fun fun fun!!!! ))) What’s a 20 over game without a nail biting finish!!!;) see d fun of having no favorites..I enjoy both sides n cheer ANY good player!!luv it What a fantastic match!!! Congratulations KOCHI!!! Well played!’ she updated.

This IPL edition is new in several respects and the inclusion of two new teams has provided some great opportunities for a few more aspiring cricketers in the country.

IPL 4 has got underway and if the first week is any indication, the interest factor has passed muster with the crowds turning up enthusiastically to support their home/favourite teams.

This edition is new in several respects and the inclusion of two new teams has provided some great opportunities for a few more aspiring cricketers in the country. Whether the interest will be sustained is something that remains to be seen as the duration of this edition is longer as a result of more matches having to be played.

Lalit Modi will follow the IPL 4 with more than passing interest and will be quick to pick on anything amiss. The political side of the IPL apart, the high profile tournament will be a superb opportunity for some youngsters to make a mark as well as for some cricketers to regain their confidence by performing against quality opponents.

The likes of Ishant Sharma will need to look at this tournament as the ideal platform to get back into the groove. Ishant has looked confident in the first few matches that he has played, apart from giving the impression that he is enjoying his bowling. His run up looks smoother and his delivery stride is more in line towards the target which is enabling him to be consistent in terms of line and he has also worked up a reasonable speed.

He may go for runs but his priority should be to sort out a few flaws that has crept into his bowling sometime ago. Even though he will get only four overs to bowl in a game, he will be up against some very high quality batsmen and if he can create a few problems for them amidst going for runs, he should be happy. There is no doubt that this may not be the right format for a bowler to gain his lost ground but each game in IPL is a high pressure one and as such Ishant can take heart from every positive that he can from this tournament.

Another cricketer who will desperately look to utilise this platform to revive his career is Irfan Pathan. He has been plagued by injuries in the recent past which did not help his waning form and the all-rounder will be keen to make a real big impact. This is an ideal stage for an all-rounder like him and his shift to the Daredevils will help him immensely as he will be expected to be the leading performer.

Such kind of expectation and responsibility can bring the best out of a cricketer and if the Baroda left-hander can turn it on, his progress will be followed closely by the selectors as the pace attack is not really settled as yet in the one-dayers and the search for an all-rounder has not ceased either. The younger Pathan has to realise that his elder sibling caught the selectors’ attention in the IPL and hence there is a lot at stake for him in this edition. He should also remember that India will be playing a lot of international cricket and a few good performances will help his cause in a big way. It remains to be seen if Irfan Pathan can make the most out of his opportunities and thereby make everyone sit up and notice.

The IPL does throw up a few unlikely heroes and the one who has caught the attention is Paul Valthaty. Not many would have heard his name a few days ago but his performances against the CSK and the DC has propelled him into the orbit. His success has reminded the press and his contemporaries of his talent but the young man will start feeling the pressure henceforth. How well he handles the pressure that limelight and an overnight reputation bring about will be the key to his continued success.

Prior to the CSK game he would have been happy to get a game on a regular basis but his scintillating century against the holders has changed everything for the seemingly unassuming all-rounder. The confidence of a century rubbed off on his bowling as well and for the time being it does seem that he can’t do anything wrong. For a cricketer who had somehow lost his way, Valthaty will feel blessed that he got the opportunities to showcase his talent. Ironically, he may be chosen now by his state selectors based on his success in the shortest form of the game. It happened to Manish Pandey a couple of years ago and there is every possibility of the same thing to a few in the future as well. After all, one of the objectives of the IPL was to give youngsters a chance to display their talent, wasn’t it?

The Indian Premier League (IPL), which Lalit Modi last year predicted would become synonymous with cricketainment, is certainly living up to its prophecy.

While the tournament has been devoid of flashiness that characterised the previous editions of the tournament under Modi, entertainment houses have ensured that cricket fans have greater access to the sport itself, as dictated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Multiplex chains, which went through one of their worst periods during the last stage of the World Cup last month when for two straight weeks tepid movies occupied centrestage on the big screen, are now mulling how they will increase footfalls till the end of May when the IPL finally ends. Sunil Punjabi, CEO of Cinemax India is hopeful that a solution will come out of the stalemate soon. “The BCCI has taken back all the broadcast rights for multiplexes. As soon as they release it, we are ready to show the matches on our screens,” he said. Punjabi also said he was in talks with Sundar Raman, CEO of IPL to facilitate a solution that would be amicable for both parties. A detailed questionnaire sent to Raman remained unanswered. Repeated calls and messages did not elicit any response either.

Already, films are losing ground to the IPL matches that began last Friday. Multiplex heads confirmed that Thank You received lesser than expected viewers and predicted that the trend will continue in the coming weeks. While the Hindi film industry put up an united front and hoped that tiring of all the action at the World Cup, audiences would be eager to watch movies. However, the industry seems to have realised that nothing works while cricket is on. Thus, after the release of Dum Maaro Dum on April 22, there are hardly any movies worth their salt to look forward to. Dum Maaro Dum will also have to contend with a downtime in available airtime on television as content shifts to IPL with each passing day. Like each year, small movies will try and make a killing but it remains to be seen how much of a dent they manage in the season of cricket. Love Ka The End, Haunted-3D, Shagird, Love U…Mr Kalakaar! are some of the films vying for eyeballs next month.

Who is Paul Valthaty?

Who is this guy, who appears out of nowhere, and single-handedly takes the reigning IPL champions, the Chennai Super Kings, to the cleaners?

Sure, 188 ought to have been good enough—a match-winning total.

But no, Paul “Blazing” Valthaty had other ideas.

Like his Biblical predecessor, he rewarded the faith in him with an explosive knock under pressure.

An interesting, engrossing sideshow—in most  due to Paul’s pyrotechnics and the ebb and flow of the game—was the exuberance of co-owner Preity Zinta in the stands.

In an auburn churidaar-kurta (salwar-kameez) that flattered her no end, the bubbly actress was a cameraman’s delight.

Paul Valthaty hogged the attention in the middle. He made “Captain Cool” MS Dhoni appear a mere spectator on his day in the sun.

Preity Zinta, meanwhile, made the shutterbugs light up the atmosphere around her. She didn’t need flashes to lighten her mood.

Valthaty was doing that for her.

The IPL may be just a week old, but cricketing aficionados have already discovered a fresh hero.

This is the beauty of the IPL.

Despite the sleaze, ham-handedness of BCCI officials, the “will they be there or not” franchisees and the cruelty of auctions, the tournament manages to retain its charm mostly because of the opportunity afforded to little-known cricketers to make their mark and brush shoulders against the best in the business.

It is every cricketer’s dream to shine under the spotlight.

Parochialism and regionalism is relegated to the background. It’s performance that counts under a professional setup.

The BCCI certainly got one aspect right—one that warms the cockles of one’s heart.

Here You are get free huge and Unique Collection of IPL 4 Bollywood Stars Hot Scenes With Cricket Stars.The language barrier will hardly be a deterrant as SRK puts his dancing shoes on for the opening ceremony of IPL tonight. Accompanying him on-stage, to get jiggy wiggy on Tamil and Bollywood tracks, is Shriya Saran. The excitement is rising already!