Yuvraj's still a friend: Preity

The IPL season kicks off in less than a month and there are a lot of changes this season. 

 One of them is that Yuvraj Singh will now bat for his new team from Pune and not for Preity Zinta's Punjab team. The actress and her players return to IPL 4 with a brave face, but the fact is that they've lost out on quite a few of their old players.

They finished bottom in the last season and with no marquee players in the team this time, everyone is wondering about their game plan. They sure will miss Yuvraj, Irfan Pathan and Bret Lee. However, the spunky Preity is not bemoaning the loss of any. When asked whether she'll miss Yuvraj, she shoots back, "Why is it always one way? He also has lost out on us. We are still friends and I wish Yuvi well. In fact, I was really happy to see him perform well in the last match that India played in the World Cup."

They occupied the wooden spoon last year but Preity is hopeful of a turnaround in 2011. "I think we should do well. If I were to play, I would come first! As long as I am not playing, I can't really comment. Not that I ever chose players for the team, but I certainly conveyed my opinion. If they wished, they agreed with me and if they didn't, they didn't."

There were murmurs of the actress packing her bags and winding up her IPL sojourn by selling off the team, but PZ stresses, "We were going to offload some stake, but not the entire team. I will never go out of it completely. To me, it's my baby that I have worked hard on and given my life to. I just can't wash my hands off it. Now it's settled and in its own zone. Let me not get stressed out about those issues."

Yes, let's not add to her stress as she readies herself for her TV debut with Guiness World Records Ab India Todega.

Katie Price files for quick divorce

Former glamour model Katie Price has filed documents in court for a quick divorce from her husband, cage-fighter Alex Reid.

Price filed legal papers at the family division of the high court Thursday, citing "unreasonable behaviour".

"If Alex doesn't contest it then he and Kate could be divorced by April. It will all depend on when a judge can hear the petition before the decree is issued. This is essentially the divorce and I think that could potentially be done and dusted within a couple of weeks," dailystar.co.uk quoted an insider as saying.

"There are no children involved in this divorce, so therefore it should make it a relatively simple process," the source added.

Ad-vantage B-Town bombshells

Nothing sells like cricket in the Indian subcontinent as it's a heady combo of action, glam and entertainment. The action is big on the small screen.

The ad revenues are mind-blowing and has shown a consistent rise in the last few years. This year, immediately after the World Cup (WC), the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be back. Sample this: while cricket is expected to earn an ad revenue of Rs 1,800 crore from its television telecast this year (up from Rs 1,500 crore in 2010, as it showcases the World Cup and the Indian Premier League in back-to-back events). How big cricket ad revenue is can be gauged from the fact that the ad revenue of 2011 is expected to touch Rs 700-800 crore as compared to the Rs 300 crore of the inaugural edition of IPL.

Cashing in on the cricket fever are Bollywood hotties. In the midst of chasing targets, flying sixes, you can see B-Town beauties endorsing brands. According to various industry sources, the ladies leading the race are Kareena Kapoor (approximately Rs 2.5-3 crore per endorsement), Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif (about Rs 2-2.5 crore per endorsement), Deepika Padukone (about Rs 1.5-2 crore per endorsement) and Genelia (about Rs 1.5 crore per endorsement).

Evergreen celeb fact: When it comes to endorsements nothing sells more than a celeb peddling the fare. Even media analysts agree on this. According to a recent study, the top recalled ads during the Annual Academy Awards 2011 had four ads endorsed by celebrities. Cut to WC 2011 where the target consumer gets to see more of Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Genelia et al.

According to ad whiz Santosh Desai, "Celebrities ensure attention. Certain amount of visibility and attention will benefit any brand. During a WC match telecast, the same people who watch the matches watch ads too. So, there is a correspondence between the two."

Rajneesh Krishna, senior professor of a leading communications management institute feels, "The presence of a Bollywood actor breaks the clutter and if the personality of the actor is in consonance with the brand, then it clicks."

'Brand fit' is the name of the game. Chandan Nath, president of a leading ad agency feels "Priyanka could be the next big thing among celeb endorsers", while ad man Prathap Suthan hedges his bets on Deepika, who he says is the right mix of the "modern and traditional, sporty and the demure." Brand consultant Anand Halve, says, "Until last year, it was a tie between Priyanka and Kareena. But today Katrina is seen as someone who with a lot of potential as she retains a sense of authenticity in the ads."

As the battle of the B-Town bombshells gets spicier by the day, the BO success rate too will significantly tilt the scales in their favour, in the coming months. Until then, the headturners will continue to grab eyeballs and rake in the big bucks.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Shah Rukh Khan: 13%
Kareena Kapoor : 9%
Hrithik Roshan: 9%
Sachin Tendulkar: 5%
Virender Sehwag: 5%
Ranbir Kapoor: 5%
Saif Ali Khan: 3%
Katrina Kaif: 3%
Salman Khan: 3%

Kat to change her spelling?

Katrina Kaif has been advised to change the spelling of her name... 

We don't know if Katrina Kaif is really affected by the failure of 'Tees Maar Khan' and the alleged-break off with Ranbir Kapoor. But yes, numerologists seem to be concerned.

Numerologist Bhavikk Sangghvi says she is no longer the IPL brand ambassador, is losing out on endorsement deals, her last film 'Tees Maar Khan' didn't fare well, and her love life isn't very smooth... All this is happening for a reason: the spelling of her name!

Sangghvi says, "I would suggest her to spell her name as Katrinna Kaif or Katreena Kaif for it to vibrate on an auspicious number, so her reign would continue without much interruption. Also wearing a pearl and an emerald on her smallest finger would help her attain mental peace and take her decisions much more calmly."

Deepika says no to smoking!

Deepika Padukone was asked to smoke up before she started shooting for the Dum Maaro Dum song "to get into the mood."

But Dips flatly refused to do so. She felt it wasn't necessary to light up (which she considers a bad and unhealthy habit) to get into the groove. Her logic was that she could do it any which way being an actor. 

Her director Rohan Sippy confirms, "It is true that I had advised her to smoke up but she told me that she just won't do it. We understood her logic and did not push her." 

People are really pushing the buck when it comes to method acting, no?

Shahrukh Khan to shake his legs with Shakira

Mumbai, March 12 -  International caroling enchantress Shakira, shall be shaking her booty for the Badshah Khan of Bollywood. Colombian chick Shakira has been approached by SRK to be a part of the music video for Kolkata Night Riders. Shakira has agreed to do so. 

SRK is an admirer of Shakira, so he came up with the idea of featuring the music diva in this new music video.
 

Well, when Shakira dances, audience want to shake a leg with her. Whether it is belly-dancing or gyrating or singing she is the ultimate rock star, who can steal the show. She is adept in various genres like pop, folk, rock.

She is very much influenced by oriental music and Arabic music. Her most popular album is “Hips Dont Lie”. She is a YouTube sensation.

Shakira has also appeared in a few televison shows like “El Oasis”, “Ugly Betty”, “Wizards Of Waverly Place”. She started learning belly dancing at an early age, and generally performs barefoot. She has performed in a number of concerts and shows all over the world. 

Shahrukh will be working with Shakira after his shooting in Malaysia for “Don 2″ gets over. The song is sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and the music is composed by the duo Salim and Sulaiman. Now, it is to be seen, whether this Waka Waka girl proves to be the lucky mascot of Kolkata Knight Riders or not!

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