Mumbai: For all those diehard fans of Jonty Rhodes, here’s a piece of good news! Buzz has it that the former South African cricketer might be one of the inmates in the house of `Bigg Boss 5`.
The flamboyant cricketer, who is still worshipped as “the finest fielder cricket has ever produced”, is currently in India and is busy touring with the Mumbai Indians’ side for the ongoing Champions League.
Talking to a daily, Jonty gave a hint and said, “I have seen the occasional episode of `Big Boss`, and have also seen `Big Brother`, in different countries around the world. Would love to try my hands at the Indian version of the show, though.”
The former SA player, however, refrained from divulging any details about his probable stint in `Bigg Boss 5`, but said, “I have been coming back to India on regular occasions since 1993, and have not been able to learn much Hindi; how to do Yoga; dance or cook some of the delicious Indian dishes, so I hope being on the show will put me in an environment where I am able to cover a few of those skills!”
When asked about his knowledge of Hindi, Jonty was prompt enough to give a smart response. He said, “I obviously don`t possess the same assets as Pamela Anderson, but she seemed to do okay! Anyways the universal language of cricket should see me through!”
Rhodes has commitments with cricket until mid-October, so the duration of his appearance in `Bigg Boss 5` has not yet been decided.
"I have cricket coaching commitments until mid-October, so am not sure when they would be able to slot me in to the show,” he said. Credit
MUMBAI: A packed cricket schedule that peaked with an Indian win in the World Cup final has hit the country's other grand passion -- film -- emptying cinemas and forcing studios to postpone big movie releases.
Analysts said business at multiplex cinemas had been weak so far in 2011, with the six-week World Cup that finished earlier this month keeping people glued to their television screens in the evenings.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament, which began immediately afterwards is also expected to keep many cinema-goers away until the end of May.
The short-format Twenty20 competition has all the glitz of Bollywood, with many film stars owning team franchises and big name players from around the world, cheered on by a bevy of scantily clad dancing girls.
The financial newspaper Mint said during the week that multiplex chains may have lost up to 500 million rupees ($11.1 million) in the three months to the end of March. Earnings data is expected in coming weeks.
"It was a weak quarter, with average occupancy rates at theatres declining to between 10 to 12 percent," said Chitrangda Kapur, media analyst with Mumbai-based Angel Broking.
"Due to the World Cup and IPL, fewer films were released from February up to May" said Rajesh Jain, head of media and entertainment at global consultants KPMG.
In the absence of the usual number of weekend movie releases, some multiplex chains even resorted to screening cricket matches to attract audiences.
Alok Tandon, chief executive of Inox Leisure Ltd, said they had no option.
"As we know, February-March is traditionally a period when kids are busy with their exams and families prefer not to go out to watch movies," he said.
"Apart from the movies, cricket is the other religion of our country and hence during this period, very few big banner movies were released.... We screened the semi-final and final, which ran to nearly house-full shows."
The back-to-back cricket tournaments could not have come at a worse time, with the Indian film industry struggling to recover from a prolonged slump.
Overall revenues have fallen 20 percent in the past three years from $2.3 billion in 2008 to $1.85 billion in 2010, according to KPMG research.
Domestic box office revenues still contribute 75 percent of an Indian film's earnings.
Poor quality content, rising overheads, the global economic crisis and an increase in other ways for people to spend their spare time have also been blamed for the downturn.
"The industry just needs one strong story to change the trend," said Devang Sampat, chief India strategist with Cinepolis, the world's fourth-largest multiplex operator globally.
Sampat cited the example of Aamir Khan's "3 Idiots" which broke box office records in 2009, but few releases in 2011 have enjoyed even a fraction of that success.
Hopes are again being pinned on Khan, and his ageing superstar namesakes Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, to boost box-office sales.
Salman's comedy "Ready" hits theatres in June, while Shah Rukh Khan stars in a sci-fi superhero movie "Ra.One" (Random Access - Version 1.0) and Aamir in "Delhi Belly" later this year.
KPMG's Jain predicted a better second half of the year for the industry.
"We have a good line-up of releases in the forthcoming quarters, including a good list of 3D and regional movies," said Inox's Tandon. "We are quite positive that these movies will do well."
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's belief that India loses a cricket match whenever he watches has finally been broken, thanks to the World Cup final that he watched on TV and saw India defeating Sri Lanka.
"Yesterday (Saturday), that age old superstitious finicky belief, that if I were to watch a game it would result disfavourably for us, broken and shattered for good I would imagine," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com late Sunday night.
Amitabh's son Abhishek had admitted recently that they do not watch India's matches, and get constant updates on phone instead, due to the superstition. But neither could resist the temptation of watching the final.
"Yes, I did not see the India-Pakistan (match), I did not see the India-Australia (match), and for most of the time resisted this final too. But I have no idea what prompted me to switch (to) the game on after we were 33 for 2 (sic) and tottering. And when Dhoni smacked that six for victory, it smacked my superstition too out of my life," added Amitabh.
The father-son duo, along Aishwarya Rai, came onto the streets late Saturday night, after the match to celebrate India's victory.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said "Chak De!" on the Indian cricket team winning the cricket World Cup in a thriller against Sri Lanka here Saturday.
"Chak De India," Shah Rukh exclaimed in front of media at his Bandra residence after the team picked up the trophy.
Until India winning the World Cup the tattoo 'D' in his hand was meant for "Don 2" but from now it would mean skipper M.S. Dhoni, said the actor.
"Now the tattoo 'D' would mean Dhoni," said Shah Rukh.
Hailing the historic triumph by the Indian Cricket Team in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Bollywood celebrities saluted Indian Captain M S Dhoni for 'leading from the front'.
Ecstatic over Team India's win Superstar of the Millennium Amitabh Bachchan said,"WE ARE THE WORLD !! Just back from driving my car in the multitudes sitting on top of the roof waving tricolor and just screaming !! IT IS MADNESS OUTSIDE !! Abhishek Aishwarya and me on top of the roof of car, waving tricolor and just screaming !! Hundreds with us. NO ONE IS SAYING ANYTHING...JUST SCREAMING !! IT IS BIZARRE !!! ROADS LANES EVERYWHERE JAMMED WITH PEOPLE AND SCREAMS !! NEVER BEFORE. ITS LIKE WE JUST WON OUR INDEPENDENCE !! INCREDIBLE !! INCREDIBLE !!!" Bollywood's popular couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai were ecstatic at India's victory against Sri Lanka in the World Cup final yesterday.
While Aishwarya said she screamed when India won, Abhishek reveled on the streets to celebrate the win.
In a message released through her publicist, Aishwarya said, "Delirious with joy! Screamed myself hoarse...Love India and love the Indian team. Full power and god bless...and Much love to Sachin...so so sooooo happy. Team India is the besssstttt." Both Abhishek and Aishwarya chose to stay at home to watch the match, instead of going to catch the action live at the Wankhede Stadium. However, Abhishek came out of his house wrapped in an Indian flag. He stood of the sunroof of his car, and celebrated with a whole lot of fans who gathered outside the Bachchan house late at night.
Congratulating the Indian team for bringing home the Cricket World Cup after a gap of 28 years, 90s Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit complemented the 'Men in Blue' for bringing the Cup back.
"Congrats Team India!!! We did it!!!! Great job bringing the cup back!!! Strong work Dhoni, Tendulkar and company! What an awesome match. Both sides played well!," Madhuri said on the micro blogging site Twitter.
Shahid Kapoor, tweeting on India's win, said, "what an experience !!!!!!! To be there and witness history ...
Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a captain's knock and gutsy Gautam Gambhir steered the innings after early jolts to hand India their second World Cup title after 1983, beating Sri Lanka by six wickets at the overflowing Wankhede Stadium here Saturday.
Chasing 275, Dhoni (91 not out) and Gambhir (97) shared 109 runs for the fourth wicket after India made a wobbly start, losing Virender Sehwag in the first over followed by Sachin Tendulkar in the seventh. Both the wickets were taken by fiery Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga.
India completed the chase in 48.2 overs with Dhoni smashing a six off Nuwan Kulasekara, sparking wild celebration in the stadium.
THURSDAY`S glittering opening ceremony of the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup in Dhaka`s Bangabandhu National Stadium has set the right tone. It was Bangladesh`s moment to shine as co-hosting international cricket`s premier event, in this case with Sri Lanka and India, is a major achievement for the country. Along with the usual pageantry, the captains of the 14 participating teams were wheeled into the stadium aboard cycle rickshaws, ubiquitous in the Bangladeshi capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed summed up the aspirations of many when she said: “I hope fraternity among the nations will further be strengthened through this World Cup.” Traditional hostilities between nations are usually put aside during such international competitions, with rivalry reserved for the sporting arena. Yet the reality is that politics is strongly intertwined with sports and there are some elements willing to puncture the spirit of camaraderie. Indian extremist outfit Shiv Sena has said its chief Bal Thackeray will decide if Pakistan is to be `allowed` to play in Mumbai — the Sena`s stronghold — should the men in green reach the final on April 2. The statement is in bad taste and it is hoped that such hate-mongering is drowned out by the cheers of cricket fans.
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