Mohammad Azharuddin on a tour of Kerala

Mohammad Azharuddin, the former Indian cricket captain and current Congress Member of Parliament from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, was on a tour of Kerala. Amid the hustle and bustle that seems to surround him wherever he goes, Metro Plus caught up for a quick chat with the affable cricketer-turned-politician. Excerpts from an interview…

I have great memories of Kerala; all the greenery and the beaches. Coming from Hyderabad, which is around 250 km inland, there were not many opportunities to chill out on the beach. I remember having fun at Kovalam beach with my teammates when we came to play a one day match against the West Indies in 1988 and later in 1995 when I came here for the Ranji Trophy, and many times afterwards.

There is no harm in being a celebrity politician because in politics there is no point in thinking/acting like a celebrity. You have to think like the common man. Although I admit, my celebrity status – all of which came to me because of cricket – meant that I didn't have to spend time in getting my profile/persona across to my constituents. On the flipside it does put you in the spotlight.

Controversies aside, it's undoubtedly a revolution that has happened to cricket – a much needed boost in a sense. Obviously IPL has increased the commercial potential of cricket and brought in unimaginable amounts of money. But we should remember that profits apart, in the end it's the game that is important. As for missing out on it, I don't think that will ever be an issue. We made the best possible with what we had.

It's each person's private decision how much they want to get involved in endorsement deals. But again as I said before, cricket should be the first priority. After all it's cricket and their game that gets each individual the endorsement in the first place.

source:beta.thehindu.com

Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe shoot their final Harry Potter Series

The lead actors from the Harry Potter films have expressed their destruction over the franchise coming to an end, but now the pain has been captured on their faces.

As Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger, and Daniel Radcliffe, wizard Harry Potter, shot their final scenes for the film, they looked distressed.

The actors were shooting in the landscape near Stevenage, Hertfordshire, for the seventh and final Potter movie and were perceptibly exciting.

Watson had her hand on Radcliffe’s shoulder to comfort him, while their co-star Rupert Grint, who plays Ron, also had a frown on his face and his arm in a sling.

The final episode in the series will see the three friends propelled into the future, where we will see them as middle-aged parents.

Some of the final filming for the new flick is also taking part in London, and just days ago King's Cross station was transformed into platform 9 ¾ for the adaptation of JK Rowling’s books.

Recently Watson likened the end of the series to ‘a friend dying’ and Radcliffe told the London Evening Standard: ‘It’s going to be bizarre.

‘I’m going to be devastated. It’s going to be very, very sad because it’s been such an important part of my life.’

The young actors have become millionaires through the films and the series is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, taking more than £3.7billion.

Producer David Heyman has said the crew is just shooting the final scenes now of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, which will then be spit into two parts.

The first part will come out this November and the second next July.

As shooting came to an end, Radcliffe revealed that Harry Potter was not always his favourite role.

In a surprising confession the 20-year-star said he would have liked to have been cast as the superhero Spider-Man.

The film role of the web-slinging crime fighter went to American actor Tobey Maguire, with the first Spider-Man film in 2002 one of the most successful of all time.

'I was always unbelievably jealous of Tobey Maguire playing Spider-Man,' Radcliffe said.

'I do think Spidey is the coolest of superheroes.'
The boy wizard was recently voted the second greatest character ever created in TV and film over the last 20 years by US magazine Entertainment Weekly - losing out to Homer Simpson.

The five Potter films have also outperformed all three Spider-Man films at the box office.

But Radcliffe will be seen in the final two instalments of the Potter series created by author JK Rowling.

Radcliffe also said he would be 'devastated' when filming finished.

'There is nothing I watch without it triggering a series of memories. Everything [about the films] is so linked to my life. At the same time, it is exciting. It is the end,' he said.

Radcliffe said he had always found Potter interesting to play - even if he wasn't the coolest superhero.

Asked what makes Harry interesting, he said: 'That he's not perfect. He's capable of being quite arrogant, pigheaded and a little bit selfish.

'He can make himself something of a martyr when he really doesn't have to.

'All those characteristics are wonderful because it separates Harry from archetypal superheroes that you often get.'

source:dailymail.co.uk

Megan Fox shows her six-pack body

She has constantly topped the lists of world's sexiest female. But who knew Megan Fox was hiding such a ripped body under those red-carpet dresses?

The former Transformer's star unveiled her taut body on the beach in Hawaii as she enjoyed a romantic break with her boyfriend Brian Green.

And that wasn't the only surprise, as the pin-up revealed a new tattoo on the right side of her body.

The 24-year-old actress put her sleek figure on show in a brown bikini as she frolicked in the Maui surf with her boyfriend the former Beverly Hills 90210 star.

And it gave onlookers the chance to get a good look at her ninth tattoo.

The new inking over the right side of her rib cage reads: 'Those who danced were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.'

The tattoo is taken from a quote by little known poet Angela Monet. And proof if ever it were needed that Ms Fox takes herself more than a little seriously.

Earlier, she emerged on the beach in unjust black polka dot bikini top and turquoise bottoms.

And it was surely a welcome break before she begins promotional duties on her next film.

Megan's next project sees her star opposed Oscar nominees Josh Brolin and John Malkovich in the supernatural Western Jonah Hex. It is due for release June 18.

The actress recently announced she would not return in the role that made her famous, in the installment of film Transformers.

Reality TV star Heidi Montag has sanguinely expressed interest in the role, but British lingerie model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is widely tipped to take over from Fox.

Bay and Rosie previously worked together on a Victoria's Secret advert after Ed Razek, chief creative talent at the lingerie and clothing company, drafted Bay in to direct the ad.

source:dailymail.co.uk

Court asks police to probe allegation against Amitabh Bachchan

A local court today asked the police to probe into a indict leveled by a village head against Amitabh Bachchan and five others over delay in setting up a college named after the megastar's daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai.

Additional chief judicial Magistrate (Fast Track) Shiv Chand directed the Mohamadpur Khala police to look into the complaint filed by Daulatpur village head Raj Kumari, and submit a report on June 10.

On behalf of Raj Kumari, her son Avnindra Singh had last week moved the court for filing a case against Bachchan and five others, alleging that the actor had "cheated" people by announcing setting up of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Mahavidyala
Degree College in the village, whereas no work has started
even after the declaration made two years back.

Bachchan had purchased 16 bighas of land in Daulatpur village in Fatehpur tehsil of the district in two phases – in 2006 and 2007 -- and had announced setting up of the college.

A organization laying ceremony and a public meeting was also held there in 2008 in the presence of the Bachchan family, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and then general secretary Amar Singh.

According to the complaint, the works for the college as per the announcements had to be carried out by Nishtha foundation of then SP MP Jaya Prada. "Whenever we tried to contact Devendra Rai of the Nishtha foundation he has threatened us," the complainant said.

source:dnaindia.com

Alicia Keys pregnant with her first child

Alicia Keys is in a motherhood state of mind: She's pregnant with her first child.

The Grammy Award-winning R&B singer has been engaged with producer Swizz Beatz, who has written hits for Beyonce, Jay-Z and others. They're engaged to be married at a private ceremony later this year.

legislature for the couple confirmed the news Thursday night.

Keys last year teamed up with Jay-Z for a hit song about New York called "Empire State of Mind." She's among a string of international artists slated to perform at a June 10 concert to mark the start of the World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa.

Beatz has been married before and has two sons.

source:today.msnbc.msn.com

Celine Dion pregnant with twins

Celine Dion pregnant with two.

Publicist Kim Jakwerth told The connected Press in an e-mail Sunday that the 42-year-old Canadian songstress is 14 weeks pregnant with twins, and she plans to find out the sex of the babies next month.

Dion and her husband and manager Rene Angelil have one son, 9-year-old Rene Charles.

She had undergone several rounds of in-vitro fertilization in an attempt to get pregnant again.

The pregnancy was first reported by People Magazine.

Dion is working on new albums in English and French, and returns next year to Las Vegas for a three-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

source:today.msnbc.msn.com

Most Follower on Twiiter : Britney Spears

Britney Spears has crushed all opposition on Twitter.com - the pop princess has become the first person on the social networking site to garner more than 5 million followers.
The "Toxic" hit maker overtook actor Ashton Kutcher, the first member to reach one million followers, as the most well-liked celebrity on the forum last week, but she set a new record by Saturday with a fan following of 5015346.
And Spears has already been thanking fans for their support - she invited devotees to send in their questions via her Twitter blog and she responded to them all through the week.

source:torontosun.com