Cricket and controversies
IPL II began on a contentious note and the hullabaloo associated with it seems to be unending, writes
Let's begin the controversy count from the last IPL season-slapgate scandal (remember our Bhajji slapping Sreesanth), Preity Zinta shifting her players from a five star hotel to a cheaper one, cheerleaders' dress code, Shahrukh Khan's smoking adventure on camera and so many more. This year it began with the much-debated venue of IPL followed by multi-captaincy row of Knight Riders and now the 'bond' blogger who is spilling the beans with his fakeiplplayer.blogspot.com.

SRK (left) with his son (right) during an IPL match

Dream accomplished
Shailendra Srivastava, an acclaimed theatre and film actor shares his dreams and life
During his childhood days, little Shelly, now Shailendra Srivastava, used to declare very often Ham toh filim wala hero actor banega. None in the family took the boy seriously, but this boy lived his dream. The well-built, sharp-featured gusty guy measuring 6-2 inches was bearing an exceptional look while giving autographs to some of his Bhojpuri film fans at the Kala gram. He looked romantic while smiling, laughing and sharing jokes with fans and friends at the function but at times when he turned sour or serious over a trivial matter his persona and gait suddenly turned villainous exuding a different aura.

True lies
Anil Kapoor wants to know truth behind Rubina's
sale reports
Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor wants to find out the truth behind reports that his Slumdog Millionaire young co-star Rubina Ali's father tried to sell her. Anil is in Hollywood, where he's being honoured at the seventh annual Indian Film Festival, and he admits he has lost contact with the kids in the hit film, reported contactmusic.com. But he is determined to return to the real-life slums in Mumbai and track down the young stars to make sure that they are fine after their brush with overnight success.

Big bang boom
After a disastrous start with Boom, Katrina Kaif creates her own niche in Bollywood
Born in Britain, speaks Hindi with an accent-Katrina Kaif is no close to the typical Bollywood actress but still she has made a mark in Indians' hearts. The former model from Finchley, north London, Katrina arrived in Mumbai in 2003 and has played the lead in 10 films till date. After a disastrous start with Boom, she went on to give a string of hit films and has created her own niche in Bollywood. Earlier, she could not dance or sing and did not speak Hindi, but she reinvented herself to play girlfriends in commercial films.

Deep blue sea
Purab Kohli recounts shark tales in South Africa
Bollywood actor Purab Kohli decided to take a trip down the wild side by diving into the great blue ocean in South Africa in the company of sharks - an experience he describes as the "most thrilling and scary moment" of his life. While on a recent visit to South Africa, Kohli, a trained deep sea diver, took a plunge into the ocean. "I decided to do something different and went for this special tour.

Game plan 
Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty whose co-owned Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals faces her friend and superstar Shah Rukh Khan's team Knight Riders in Cape Town Thursday, says "all's fair in love and cricket" despite it being a "difficult" match emotionally.

Missing link 
Indian films missing from Cannes official line-up 
India failed to find a place in the list of movies competing for the coveted Palme d'Or as the official line-up for the 62nd Cannes Film Festival was announced. Indian filmmaker Manoj Srivastava's short film Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke, highlighting the life of street children in Delhi, was selected in the Short Film Corner section of the festival last year. Dev Anand's Guide and the Tamil film Billa were showcased in the Cannes Classic and marketing sections in 2008.

Going West
Bollywood heartthrob John Abraham is all set to venture into international cinema with gangster flick American Empire. Abraham, who earlier earned rave reviews in the Deepa Mehta's Oscar nominated film Water, is currently reading the script of the film.

Homage to men in khaki
On location shooting of forthcoming Bollywood film Total Ten is underway in Mumbai. The film would star Rajan Verma, who essays the role of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist caught alive during the Mumbai terror attack in November 2008. Produced by Hari Om Sharam, Anand Pandrey and Kumar, Total Ten is budgeted at a meagre Rs 3 crore and shows the journey of Kasab from Pakistan to the trial court in Mumbai.

A still from the movie Total Ten

Gold rush
Akhshaya Trithiya gives a reason to go for another shopping adventure
A day ideal for beginning new ventures, Akshaya Trithiya is held sacred in Hinduism. Falling on April 27 this year, this day calls for rush in investments, as it is popularly believed that whatever is bought on this day appreciates. Reason, the sun and the moon are most radiant and best placed on this day. Therefore, this is one of the most popular dates in Hindu calendar for beginning new ventures, investing and purchasing valuables like gold and diamond.

Employees of Ivy Hospital check out the diamond jewellery exhibition

Mistress of spices
A ten-day Hyderabadi food festival will serve the best of Nizami flavours
For the new Indian global gourmet who eats as much at home as outside, restaurants have become a second home. Creating an ambience worth visiting, Hotel Western Court, Panchkula kick-started its ten-day Hyderabadi Food Festival. Done up in vibrant green the restaurant spells— Nizami décor with an Urdu qulam welcoming you and mogra and marigold spreading a whiff of flowery aroma.

Chef Manju Sachdeva offers her culinary expertise at the Hyderabadi Food Festival 

All on a platter 
Wish to have Idli Samber with Shahi Paneer and Manchurian? We know the combination is pretty odd but you rarely get so many options at a go. Here is an opportunity to indulge in authentic South Indian, spicy Punjabi and tangy Chinese cuisine under one roof. Sundarams, sector 26 popular for south Indian delicacies has recently introduced the Punjabi and Chinese menu considering people’s love for these cuisines.

Let me take you down, ‘cause I’m going to Strawberry Fields...
Strawberry fields
The melodious Beatles number reflects a lazy countryside mood, somewhat alien to our own culture but the truth of the matter is that few foods reflect summer’s glory more than the fragrant, succulent and irresistibly seductive strawberry.

Launch PAD
Healthy option
Shakti Bhog Foods Ltd is all set to introduce a new range of Basmati Rice with handy and re-sealable packaging in the market. The Company is already a pioneer in manufacturing, branding and packaging items of daily consumption like Aata, Besan, Dalia, Pickles, etc to name a few. Shakti Bhog Foods is one of the most reputed brands in the field of food products not only in India but, in 40 other countries where its products are exported.