Reality World

Mohali (Punjab), (IANS) Preity Zinta, Bollywood star and now one of the four co-owners of the Mohali team of the Indian Premier League (IPL), was a lonely host at her squad's first tie Saturday evening with the stadium here virtually without any stars or many spectators. The over-35,000-capacity Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium had some stands virtually empty, particularly those with expensive tickets. The pavilion terrace block, which is overcrowded during any international match, was almost empty. Only a few people sat in the Rs.3,000 per ticket block. Out of the few thousand spectators, most were in the students' block, where each ticket cost Rs.50, the general block (Rs.250) and another block with tickets costing Rs.750. "The empty stands have more to do with the free pass culture in Chandigarh and Punjab, particularly among VIPs and their families. With not many free passes being given by the IPL, people did not turn up," a member of the PCA organising co...

New Delhi, (IANS) Studies are the first priority for 11-year-old Darsheel Safary, who endeared himself to audiences in "Taare Zameen Par". Having fun is second on the list and movies, surprisingly, come last. "My studies are the most important thing for me. I can't think of anything which is more important than these," Darsheel told IANS here. His priorities are quite clear. "For me, studies come first, then I want to do 'masti' (have fun) like my friends and doing movies come last," quipped the child actor. Darsheel, a Class 6 student, was in the capital to promote health drink Horlicks, of which he's just become the brand ambassador. His mother Sheetal Safary is also very particular about his studies. "Darsheel has a weekly test every Thursday in school. We try our best to make him concentrate on his studies at least on Wednesday. Otherwise, he mostly works on weekends," she said. With his recent tie-up with Horlicks, he has ent...