Harbhajan's day out with Geeta Basra at Indian Grand Prix
Indian cricket ace Harbhajan Singh made a splash with actress Geeta Basra at the Buddh International Circuit.
- mid-day.com
- Updated: October 31, 2011 04:23 pm IST
Even as reports of India offie Harbhajan Singh marrying Bollywood starlet Geeta Basra emerged recently, the two made their relationship quite obvious as they toured the pit lane together on Sunday, before the start of the Indian Grand Prix.
Bhajji who was dropped from the Indian team for the England ODIs as well as the upcoming first Test against the West Indies, looked very relaxed in the company of the actress, who ensured she had her man nearby at all times even as some female fans greeted and got themselves clicked with the eligible bachelor.
Basra was in fact eager, to get her picture clicked along with the cricketer too, and when she failed to draw his attention on a couple of occasions, she muscled her way through the crowd yelling: "Bhaj... Bhaj... can I get a picture too please." He obviously obliged.ÂÂ
Viru plays it straight
India's opening batsman Virender Sehwag is known to speak his mind, and on Sunday he gave another glimpse of just that at the pit lane before the start of the Grand Prix. When MiD DAY asked Viru if he's a fan of Schumacher or Hamilton, he shot back: "I'm not a Schumacher or Vettel fan.
I'm here for Force India and I'm a Force India fan." Never mind that he got the team's name incomplete, considering the Sahara group have just pumped in a 100 million to get their name and ideology associated with the only Indian F1 team.ÂÂ
'F1 is definitely a sport'
Though the Indian government is yet to ascertain whether Formula One is a sport or lifestyle entertainment, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has no doubt in his mind.
"Oh, it's definitely a sport. Just looking at what all the drivers go through... their fitness regime, etc leaves absolutely no doubt that it's a sport," Abdullah told MiD DAY in the pit lane, before the start of the race.
Bad man loves fast cars
Bollywood baddie Gulshan Grover raised quite a few eyebrows on Sunday when he revealed that he was one of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's personal invitees to the Indian GP. Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar obviously tops that list.
One onlooker justified Grover's claim. "He is India's most famous villain in Hollywood, having done a host of films there, so that's how he must have gotten close to Bernie."
"Of course I love fast cars and that's why I'm here too," said Grover.
Riteish is a Schumi fan
Bollywood actor and son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister, Riteish Deshmukh, was overjoyed at being in the pit lane area of the inaugural Indian GP. "My heart is in support of Sahara Force India but I'm a huge (Michael) Schumacher fan. Ya (Sebastian) Vettel is doing well but Schumi is the reason that I follow Formula One racing."