Unmindful of the sweltering heat, die-hard fans who filled the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, were disappointed not to see their heroes—actor Shah Rukh Khan and cricketer Shoaib Akhtar—in 'action'.

Braving the scorching sun, the enthusiasts took their seats much before the match began between Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders. Even 42 degree Celsius temperature could not keep the crowd away from enjoying the Sunday game.

The stadium with a capacity to accommodate 40,000 was almost full. It was the best crowd so far at this stadium though the hosts have lost all their three matches played here and is at the bottom of the point’s table with just two wins from eight outings.

It was also the first day-night IPL match to be played here.

Many fans turned up to catch a glimpse of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who owns the Kolkata team. But they were disappointed not to find King Khan in the stands.

'Where r u SRK' asked a placard carried by one of the fans. Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) officials said they have no information if the superstar would be coming to cheer the team.

However, another Bollywood star and Shah Rukh Khan's friend Arbaaz Khan was present to cheer the Kolkata team.

HCA secretary Shivalal Yadav said all tickets for the match were sold out. "But I don't know what is the contributing factor for this," he said.

Shoaib Akhtar's fans were also disappointed, as the Pakistani speedster was not included in the team. The controversial bowler, who is a big crowd puller, is still waiting to make an IPL debut for his Kolkata team.

The visitors, however, evoked lusty cheers from a section of the crowd. Bengalis settled here were present in large numbers to cheer for Kolkata Knight Riders' captain Sourav Ganguly and his team mates.

Akshay's gesture in the teaser of "Singh is Kinng" where he has his hands straightened out and roars 'Kidda' (in Punjabi) is gradually acquiring cult status.

Recently at a cricket match in Delhi, when Akshay and Katrina were hanging out, Priyanka Gandhi's husband, Robert Vadhera, apparently a huge Akshay fan, reportedly expressed being impressed by the teaser of "Singh is Kinng" and added that he found Akshay's hand gesture "very cool".

An Indian Films-Studio 18 release "Singh is Kinng" will hit cinema hall worldwide on August 08.Boll

Must Watch : Akshay Kumar Mind blowing performance at Delhi DareDevil's first match at Kotla Stadium Read More ...

Even if all the other teams come together, Knight Riders can easily battle it out on the field.

This is what Badshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan had to say after his team’s magnificent victory over Deccan Chargers at the Eden Gardens.

After going through the tensions that accompanied the ban on one of his star players- speed star Shoaib Akthar and the low turn out of ticket buyers before the start of the league, the good form of his team is giving the proud owner much relief and relaxation.

Just like his character of the super coach in the super hit ‘Chak De India’ in which he guided the Indian women’s Hockey team to be the winners of the World championship, King Khan may now be waiting to experience in real life how it feels to be the top most man of a champion team.

In the words of the star himself, whether it is the IPL matches or just a game of carom with his kids, it’s the obsession to be the winner every time that has given him the strength to take the huge risks till now.

It seems that the boys in the Knight Riders also have got really inspired from the energy and enthusiasm that the owner of their team has showed till now.

Sharukh’s words that his team is in the IPL to show how a team can believe in themselves and achieve a dream and how the three D’s, discipline, dedication and dignity are present in every one of their ball delivery and every stroke of the bat must have taken the morale of Knight Riders into a new level.

From the revelation that owning the team is not just to make money or get into the world of cricket, but is a way to realize an unfulfilled child hood dream of being a cricketer through his team, Shah Rukh Khan has made it known that he is into the IPL not just for experiencing some sporting pressures and making some huge bucks, but also for satisfying some deeply personal needs.

"IPL matches are going to be full of entertainment...larger than life. I believe it's my duty to entertain people whether it's in films or in the IPL matches," Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders along with friend Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta, told IANS.

The glamour quotient will be complete. According to Shah Rukh, Rani Mukerji, Bipasha Basu, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan are expected to attend the first match.

Besides, Karan Johar, Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jessia, Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Priyanka Chopra, Amrita Arora are amongst the others who will be in Bangalore to see the cricket fiesta kick off.

Apart from inviting the proverbial galaxy of stars to cheer his team, King Khan has also launched an album 2 Hot 2 Cool to promote the Knight Riders.

"Today, you need a heavy dose of glamour for marketing everything. And Bollywood stars largely help you in promoting a product or team for that matter," said Bappi Lahiri, who has composed the music for 2 Hot 2 Cool.

If Shah Rukh has himself as the mascot of his team, Mallya has stars like Katrina Kaif.

"When Vijay asked me to be part of this venture, I couldn't say no! I share a great rapport with them and I'm looking forward to be making appearances to cheer for the Royal Challengers. I hope the team lives up to the Royal Challenge tIPoo and wins against all odds," Katrina told IANS.

She will be performing along with Zayed Khan during the match, and has also been signed up for the promotional album of the team.

And Preity Zinta, co-owner of the Mohali team, Kings XI Punjab, has teamed up with Punjabi pop singer Daler Mehndi to record an anthem for her squad.

Also, Akshay Kumar will slip into his dancing shoes for the Delhi Daredevils and Hrithik Roshan will do a jig for the Mumbai Indians, owned by Mukesh Ambani, who have tied up with Yash Raj Films upcoming movie "Tashan".

Shah Rukh's team wins both the IPL matches played so far; Preity hopes to win today's and make-up for her first loss.

It has been an eventful three-day journey with the IPL having taken off full throttle. The marriage of cricket and cinema seems to have provided much entertainment to the masses and some are still reeling in the flamboyancy the concept of the IPL provides.

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 committee said.

Zinta herself could be seen cheering her Mohali team led by Yuvraj Singh as they took on the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings.

She did not have any stars to back her - unlike Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, who had lined up several friends from filmdom at Bangalore to support his Kolkata team that trounced the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the tournament opener Friday.

PCA sources said Zinta had sent invites to several co-stars and VIPs but not many turned up.

Anil Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor at Wankhede Stadium, Sunday evening, April 20, in support of the 'Mumbai Indians'. Photo Credit: Sawf News

April 21, 2008 (Sawf News) - Tashan lead actors Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan showed up at Wankhede Stadium, Sunday evening, April 20, in support of the 'Mumbai Indians'.

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan at Wankhede Stadium, Sunday evening, April 20, in support of the 'Mumbai Indians'. Photo Credit: Sawf News

Reliance Industries, which owns the Mumbai IPL team, have tied up with Tashan producers, Yash Raj Films, to promote their team.

The three Tashan stars ran a lap each to warm up the cheering crowds just before the start of the match.

Anil Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor at Wankhede Stadium, Sunday evening, April 20, in support of the 'Mumbai Indians'. Photo Credit: Sawf News

Anil Kapoor ran fast in a spirited performance, shouting through his mic egging the crowds to cheer for the Mumbai Indians.

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan at Wankhede Stadium, Sunday evening, April 20, in support of the 'Mumbai Indians'. Photo Credit: Sawf News

A heavily dolled up Kareena waved at the crowds as she jogged past, letting her ill fitting blue colored Mumbai Indians polo shirt ride up well above her waist, delighting everyone with the show of her flesh. She looked pretty sexy, with her flat stomach and low slung tight blue jeans. Her hair was pulled back and tied in a ponytail, bringing more focus to her signature raccoon eye makeup.

Saif Ali Khan with his son at Wankhede Stadium, Sunday evening, April 20, in support of the 'Mumbai Indians'. Photo Credit: Sawf News

Saif walked along with his son.

Akshay Kumar was a no show, perhaps because he is the brand ambassador of Delhi Dare Devils.

Simi Grewal and Neeta Ambani at Wankhede Stadium, Sunday evening, April 20, in support of the 'Mumbai Indians'. Photo Credit: Sawf News

Seated in the VIP area were Yashraj Chopra, Simi Grewal, Neeta and Mukesh Ambani.

Akshay has performed some breathtaking stunts during in his 17-year Bollywood career, but this will probably count as one of his best - as he performed it real.

The only hiccup was that the action sequence did not finish the way it was planned. Akshay flung in air over 70 meters from the ground and slid on a wire from one end of the stadium to the other, watched by a spell-bound audience.

For a moment it looked as if a brilliant trapeze artist was performing. The 40-year-old fitness freak climbed on to a trolley and then leapt in the air on the specially laid wire for the stunt. He turned upside down as he tried to reach the other end of the stage, crossing flames.

But with just a few metres left to cross the flames, the wires loosened up and he had to come down to the ground. The Delhi-born star then did a lap of the stadium with cheer leaders following him.

There were also a trick bicyclist and martial arts performers who entertained the audience with their stunts. Akshay’s wife and former actress Twinkle Khanna was among the spectators.

This is the first major floodlit match at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

Shah Rukh Khan's IPL Team - Kolkata Knight Riders - Anthem Read More ...

When King Khan found out the ban on Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar would prevent him from playing in his IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders, he was understandably upset. “I was shooting and had switched off my phone, so I just got the message,” says Shah Rukh, “It’s very sad because Shoaib is an important part of our team. I think the Pakistani board, with due respect to them, has banned him from playing international matches for five years. But as far as I know, the IPL matches are not internationally recognised, so I don’t know why he shouldn’t play for us.”

Now, will the actor be taking steps to make things right for his team? “We thought we had a good mix of players with Shoaib on the team,” says SRK, “He was working out and making sure he was fit to play for IPL. I’ll see if I can talk to the relevant people about the ban, if they can make a special consideration as this is not an international match.”