Symonds essays role in Bollywood flick 'Patiala House

Semi-retired Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, it seems, is truly embracing India.

He has essayed a role in a Bollywood film - Patiala House - which features noted actor Akshay Kumar and actress Anushka Sharma - and is more or less likened to Gurinder Chadha's Bend it Like Beckham.

Symonds is in demand in India, where the Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians bought his services for 850,000 dollars.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Patiala House, released on Friday, features appearances by Symonds and fellow former stars ex-Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram, ex-England captains Nasser Hussain and Graham Gooch, and South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs

The film tracks tensions between a traditional Punjabi father and his son in the west London suburb of Southall.

The film is about a cricketer's life and therefore we have taken many cricketers as actors so that we can get a real look for the film," said Advani, said its director Nikhil Advani. (ANI)
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Unsubstantiated reports on I-T raids at my place hurt me: Priyanka

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra on Monday night said that unsubstantiated reports on the income-tax raids on her premises last week have shocked and hurt her.

"I was shocked to find unsubstantiated media reports and 'source' based news. I experienced this for the first time in my career. It hurt me and affected me a lot," the actress said during her first media interaction after the raids.

Referring to media reports that Rs 6 crore unaccounted wealth was found in her house during the raids, Priyanka said, "I have never seen so much money together."

Asked the reason for raids at her place despite her being considered one of the highest tax-payers till recently, she said, "People say that every big star faces such a situation. I would like to flatter myself in this way."

On the reported presence of actor Shahid Kapur in her house during the time of raids, she said, "At that time my mother was out of town. Shahid lives three minutes away from my house so I did call him."

Filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj, who has directed Priyanka in her upcoming film 'Saat Khoon Maaf', said, "People need Bollywood for publicity. This is disgusting. Till facts come out clearly media should support the artist."