• BCCI is treating senior players like kids: Wasim Akram

    Submitted by ITV Production on Apr 09, 2007

    MUMBAI : Former Pakistan Test captain and ESPN-STAR Sports expert commentator Wasim Akram is unhappy with the way that the BCCI has handled its senior players after the World Cup debacle.

    In an exclusive interview to Mobile ESPN, Akram said: ?It?s a joke the way the BCCI is limiting players from signing endorsements. You can?t be treating senior players like Sachin (Tendulkar) as kids. If some senior players have advised the board to stop endorsements, then it is wrong?the jealousy factor is very clear.?

    Mobile ESPN is a specialized feature service from ESPN STAR Sports, offering unique sports content to sports fans on their cell phones, delivering not only wireless voice service, but also applications such as easy to access sports news, information, commentary, analysis and sports statistics.

    Akram said: ?As I cricketer, I looked forward to playing for my country. If you are good enough, endorsements will come. It?s not the money but the recognition that matters. Of course, money should not affect your game, but form and endorsements are not related. Can you tell David Beckham that all your endorsements are being withdrawn because you haven?t scored a goal in two years??

    ?Financial stability is important for athletes. Cricket is a mental game and a player will only perform only when he is mentally comfortable that his efforts are being rewarded. The BCCI must rethink its decision,? said Akram.

    The Sultan of Swing, as Akram is popularly called, lauded the idea to persist with Rahul Dravid as captain for the next three tours starting with Bangladesh on May 10. ?It?s a bold decision?The couple of senior players who were dreaming to be captain again in place of Dravid have been put in their places. Winning and losing is part of the game and BCCI has taken a good decision to retain Dravid.

    ?Dravid is a good captain and he is improving. He may be lacking in confidence but he will get better. Under him, India will settle down as a team. It might take a couple of years but eventually the results will be good.?

    Akram praised the BCCI for making Ravi Shastri the manager for the Bangladesh tour. ?Players like Ravi should be more actively involved. Ravi is a players? man, likeable and knows what to do with players. His 15 years in the media will be an advantage. Whatever happens, happens for the better and Ravi?s coming, even for a short span, will help. May be in future, there is a bigger role for him in Indian cricket.?

    He may have been against him as coach of Team India, but Akram said the decision to offer Greg Chappell the directorship of the National Cricket Academy was brilliant. ?So what if he failed as Team India coach? Greg has a lot to offer. He is an organized man and young players will learn Aussie aggression and passion from him. Indian cricket needs the hunger for success and who better than Greg to instill that??

     
  • Watch '101 Greatest Comic Scenes' only on Star Gold at 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday

    Submitted by ITV Production on Apr 07, 2007

    MUMBAI:After watching some of the best comedy films all week on Star Gold, get set to watch some of the funniest comedy scenes of all times this weekend! Salute the stalwarts of comedy in Bollywood by watching clips from some of the most rib-tickling films of all times and get your dose of comedy to recharge your batteries for the week! Tune in this Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. and roll on the floor in a fit of laughter with "101 Greatest Comic Scenes" only on Star Gold!

    Presented by Purbi Joshi, these special one-hour episodes are a compilation of the best comedy scenes from the 70‘s, 80‘s, 90‘s all the way till 2006! This weekend, watch some of the funniest scenes from films like Hello Brother, Shola Aur Shabnam, Ajnabee, Deewana Mastana, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, to name a few.

    In these episodes, Purbi will also share interesting trivia of some of the best comedy films, fun facts, things we never knew about our favorite comedians and much more! Also, watch out for some hilarious gags by Purbi and watch her imitate the Big B himself! Get your "PhD in Comedy" by learning unknown facts and fun trivia about your favorite comedy films, comedians and filmmakers only on STAR Gold in April.

    So tune in to watch the ‘101 Greatest Comic Scenes‘, a special show which is sure to tickle your funny bone, this Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. only on Star Gold.

  • Catch Konkona Sen Sharma, Kunal Kapoor and Ritesh Deshmukh in a candid chat with Karan

    Submitted by ITV Production on Apr 04, 2007

    MUMBAI: She is slowly and steadily making a place for herself in the Indian movies... from niche cinema to commercial multiplex cinema? Karan‘s first guest is the girl that every intelligent cine goer absolutely adores? Konkona Sen Sharma.His second guest is the sexiest new entry in the Hindi movies... he stood out in the fantastic ensemble of Rang De Basanti and is now here to stay... the very hot and happening Kunal Kapoor! Also, joining them is the funniest guy in the business... his straight faced comic timing has made him the darling of multiplex cinema and the masses? the fantastic actor and the very humble Ritesh Deshmukh. Make sure you catch the young and the talented brigade of 2006, Konkona, Kunal and Ritesh this Sunday, April 8th at 9 p.m. on Star One and Star World only on Koffee with Karan!

    From discussing about their careers, regrets, to their love life; the trio have an absolute blast on the show! Konkona shares why she will never do a matka jhatka movie, how she was intimidated by the hugely successful star cast of Omkara and in fact is all praise for Kareena! Kunal talks about his take on the sex symbol tag, the special relationship he shares with his childhood friend Hrithik Roshan and life after Rang De Basanti! On the other hand, Ritesh admits on the show that his father was quite surprised to see him in Apna Sapna Money Money but has always got full support from his illustrious political family! He shares that he no longer gets affected by the rumors linking him with his first co-star Genelia and even being questioned about his sexuality!

    And just when the set of controversial Q&A wraps up and the three attractive actors are about to lean back with a sigh of relief, Karan announces the rapid fire round! One mainstream actor Konkona would love to date? Aamir or Hrithik, whom does Kunal choose? One actress Ritesh would like to get naughty with? Who wins the most desired possession on the show - the coffee hamper! Find out on this Sunday‘s episode of Koffee with Karan..

  • Watch the Great Indian Laughter Champions 'Dwitiya', every Friday at 9:00 p.m

    Submitted by ITV Production on Apr 04, 2007

    MUMBAI: Get ready as The Great Indian Laughter Champions ‘Dwitiya‘ gears up for some groovy entertainment with none other than the ‘disco icon‘ of Bollywood - Mithun Chakravarthy. Watch the versatile and talented actor as he gears up to thrill the audiences and share a few jokes with our very own laughter champions.

    That‘s not all; catch Mithun-da doing the famous Disco Dancer jig on stage LIVE and enthralling the audiences. And of course Sidhu executes his ‘shayris‘ to build up the atmosphere and matches a few of his own Bhangra steps with the Disco icon! Watch them all as they take bring a fresh dose of laughter this Friday, April 06, 2007 at 9:00 pm.

    So its time to cure your weeknight blues as Star One brings your dose of Vitamin ‘C‘ (comedy) with The Great Indian Laughter Champions ‘Dwitiya‘, every Friday at 9:00 p.m.

  • Lost 2 Encore Presentation starts this Thursday on Star Movies

    Submitted by ITV Production on Apr 04, 2007

    MUMBAI: For all those who missed the second season of Lost, you have a second chance to update yourself on your favorite show!!! Every night, starting Thursday, April 5th at 11 p.m., get set for some action-packed mystery and adventure in one of the most critically acclaimed mini-series, LOST as it returns only on Star Movies! With an eclectic cast consisting of American, British and Indian stars, it is a show that redefined television viewing the world over. Promising more gripping drama, revealing more secrets about the island and its inhabitants! So get set to be hooked all over again with a double bill of LOST!

    The story continues from where the first season ended. After Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island, its survivors are forced to find inner strength they never knew they had in order to survive. They have got accustomed to living and surviving the elements and whatever else is on the island. But they are still nowhere near finding their way back to civilization.

    Characters to watch out for in Season 2...

    " Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), joins the cast as a resident of the island whose story is one of the mysteries that will be explored as the season progresses.

    " In addition, one will discover that there are more previously unknown survivors of the crash of flight #815 who all crashed in the tail section of the plane - Ana Lucia (Michelle Rodriguez, Girlfight, The Fast and the Furious) -- the mysterious woman Jack met at the Sydney airport bar, Rose‘s husband Bernard (Sam Anderson), Libby (Cynthia Watros)

    " The most mysterious, and perhaps most important of all the new characters is Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick), who begins the second season inside the hatch, explaining to Jack,

    The first episode will see ?BOOM! an explosion .. at the top of a very deep shaft, are Locke and Jack - who‘ve just blown the hatch to hide everyone inside, but because of the depth of the shaft that‘s not going to be possible. .. Locke and Kate return to the hatch that night defying Jack‘s orders ? Meanwhile, Shannon stumbles upon a shockingly familiar face in the jungle .. Jack decides to follow Locke and Kate down the hatch?.Does Jack manage to find Locke and Kate? Who does Shannon stumble upon? Wait and watch, as the much-awaited mini series is back to enthrall the audience!

    Beginning and ending inside the mysterious hatch, the second season reveals more about the history of the island, the identity of ‘the others‘ and a lot more! With a strong star cast, imaginative directing, and intelligent writing, LOST is one of the most talked about new dramas across the world.

    This is your last chance! Don‘t miss the Season 2 of this gripping mini series on STAR MOVIES, starting Thursday, April 6th at 11 p.m.

  • Vote for your very own 'Sony Femina My Miss India'

    Submitted by ITV Production on Apr 02, 2007

    MUMBAI: Beauty with brains. That‘s what Femina Miss India has always been about. Right from its inception Femina Miss India has always aimed at putting India on the international arena.

    Sony in association with Femina is now giving the viewers a unique chance to vote for their own ‘Sony Femina My Miss India‘. On 31st March at 9:00 p.m. Sajid Khan will be seen interviewing the 25 contestants who will introduce themselves, their likes, dislikes, hobbies and most importantly why they were taking part in the contest.

    Viewers can then vote for their favourite contestant by sending an SMS ‘Name of the contestant‘ to 2525. Also see all your favourite contestants on setindia.com.

    With their vibrant personality and timeless appeal these young women are seen as icons for today‘s youth and generation, making a mark in the beauty industry in 2007.

    Sony Entertainment Television takes pride in presenting these young women as nominees for ‘Sony Femina My Miss India‘. A true combination of femininity and strength these young women represent a generation that believes in ‘beauty with a purpose‘.

    With this category gaining popularity among the others, this award gives viewers a chance to select their favorite ‘Sony Femina My Miss India‘ . While Femina Miss India is gearing up to crown the best of these beauties, this is a chance for Sony viewers to pick up their mobile phone and vote for their choice of the ‘Sony Femina My Miss India‘.

    So vote now and make sure your favourite wins! Log on to setindia.com and vote and make your favourite contestant win the ‘Sony Femina My Miss India‘!!!

     
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