"Preity
Zinta
is
my
favourite
actress
and
I'
not
saying
that
because
she
is
the
co-owner
of
Kings
XI
Punjab," said
express
bowler
Brett
Lee
at
the
press
conference
of
his
acting
debut
Victory
in
Jaipur
yesterday.
Lee
alongwith
Mike
Hussey,
Brad
Hogg,
Simon
Katich,
RP
Singh,
Praveen
Kumar,
Dinesh
Karthik
and
Yousuf
Pathan
played
a
competitive
game
under
the
luminous
floodlights
in
the
dexterously
maintained
Sawai
Maan
Singh
Stadium.
While
huge
sixes
were
being
lofted
all
over
the
park,
director
Ajit
Pal
canned
one
shot
after
another
in
the
beauteous
35
MM
camera
which
was
always
at
the
risk
of
being
smashed
by
one
of
Dinesh
Karthik's
massive
strikes.
Victory
stars
the
sensation
of
2008
Harman
Baweja
in
the
role
of
a
cricketer
from
a
humble
background
rubbing
shoulders
with
the
best
in
the
business.
"This
is
for
the
first
time
that
you'll
see
real
players
will
be
playing
in
a
film.
Except
for
Harman,
all
professional
players
are
playing," said
producer
Manmohan
Shetty.
Incidentally,
this
happens
to
be
his
first
production
post
the
winding-up
at
Adlabs.
Shetty
hasn't
coined
a
name
for
his
production
house
(set
up
along
with
industrious
daughter
Pooja
Shetty)
yet
and
as
for
the
budget
of
Victory,
this
is
what
he
has
to
say,
"It's
a
big
budget
looking
film
but
we
still
don't
know
the
exact
amount
as
it
is
yet
to
be
complete."
Alright
let's
bring
you
an
'ankhon
dekha
haal' of
what
really
happened
at
this
unusual
on
location
of
a
Hindi
film.
No
grease
paint
adorned
heroine
simpering-n-careening
away
to
glory,
no
humongous
delays
and
no
starry
tantrums
from
the
film
crew.
The
film's
hero
Harman
Baweja
remained
ensconced
in
the
player's
dressing
room
politely
distancing
himself
from
media
speculation
as
his
first
big
release
Love
Story
2050
is
yet
to
be
released.
Without
an
iota
of
doubt
Brett
Lee
was
the
hero
of
the
day.
Right
from
having
fun
with
his
mates
at
Sheraton
Rajputana
swimming
pool
(Yup
watching
them
jump
in
water
fully
clothed
was
a
sight)
to
being
mobbed
by
the
frantic
crowd
at
the
stadium
who
jumped
barricades
(A
couple
of
demure
looking
policeman
were
more
keen
on
protecting
the
newly
baked
pitch
especially
for
the
impending
IPL
fiesta
than
shooing
away
the
irate
public).
Lee
was
the
cynosure
of
all
eyes
and
like
a
star
he
mingled
with
fans,
burnt
sky
hugging
fire
crackers
and
patiently
answered
queries
from
fan-like
journos
keen
on
knowing
if
he
would
build
up
a
six
pack
or
eight
pack
to
maybe
giving
the
Khans
and
the
Roshans
a
run
for
their
money.
"I
am
a
cricketer
he
said," with
a
shining-sword
smile
and
the
impact
was
hard
to
miss.
"Playing
for
Australia
is
my
first
love
but
there
are
so
many
other
things
that
I
like
doing
like
fashion,
music
(he
carried
his
guitar
even
to
the
stadium),
and
watching
movies
and
now
being
a
part
of
it.
When
it
releases
in
Australia
there
will
be
lots
pf
laughs,
lots
of
fun."
So,
why
did
he
agree
to
do
Victory
where
he
plays
himself?
"It
is
a
fantastic
script
and
hats
off
to
people
who've
written
it."
When
quizzed
about
the
recent
altercations
between
Indian
and
Australian
players,
Lee
diplomatically
said,
"The
relations
between
Indian
and
Australian
cricketers
are
brilliant.
There
have
been
a
few
instances
but
these
kind
of
things
happen."
Actor
Dalip
Tahil
who
plays
the
coach
of
Indian
cricket
team
in
the
field
light-heartedly
jumped
in
at
this
moment,
"We
are
trying
to
get
Brett
busy
with
Bollywood
assignments
so
that
he
doesn't
find
time
for
cricket."
Everyone
wanted
a
piece
of
Brett
Lee
(though
there
were
some
who
were
overwhelmed
with
the
presence
of
Mr
Highest
Average
Mike
Hussey
too).
So
Brett,
would
you
sing
for
us?
"Haan
mein
tumhara
hoon
aur
tuhara
ho
rahoonga,"
he
mouthed
his
lines
from
the
Asha
Bhonsle.
And
what's
the
best
Hindi
film
you've
ever
watched?
"Any
film
starring
Preity
Zinta,"
he
said
with
a
chuckle.
Talk
about
keeping
your
team
honour
in
good
humour.
Or
does
it
have
to
do
something
with
the
rumours
of
their
alleged
fling
a
few
years
ago.
Hmmmm…we
aren't
jumping
to
conclusions.
Are
we!
Never
mind...
Victory
also
stars
Amrita
Rao
and
Anupam
Kher
in
pivotal
roles.
The
music
of
the
film
has
been
given
by
Anu
Malik
and
it
is
slated
to
release
in
October
2008.
Story first published: Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 10:45 [IST]