Bollywood celebrities turn cricket fans

Mehr Jessia
(Arjun Rampal's wife)
Was the IPL match your first live cricket match?
No. I've watched a couple before one in South Africa and the other in Mumbai but that was because of Arjun's love for the game.

Have you been converted into a cricket fan now?
Yes completely! It's incredible what's happening on the field. On weekends, we're glued to the TV screen. There's such good energy but I also think that"s we are loving it because it's just 20 overs.

What does your husband think of your interest in cricket now?
Arjun's very happy as any man would be about his wife showing interest in the game. Otherwise, we insist on putting the TV off.

How much of the game do you understand today?
I still need to know a lot of things but by now about 60 per cent.

What's a googly?
I don't know.

Riya Sen
Was the IPL match your first live cricket match?
Yes. I have watched twice at Kolkata and Jaipur as mascots for the IPL. They invited me. The first time, I supported the Knight Riders. Later, I supported the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.

Have you been converted into a cricket fan now? Yes. I love the game today.

How much of the game do you understand today?
Earlier, I knew the cricketers but now I know a little bit of the game too. Because of the IPL I know about 70 per cent of the game.

What's a googly?
It's a type of spin ball delivery.

Neha Dhupia
Was the IPL match your first live cricket match?
No. I have always been a big sports fan and have been to several cricket matches.

Have you been converted into a cricket fan now?
I have always been a cricket fan but IPL just got more glamorous. There are film stars and cheerleaders and there is no stone left unturned to promote the game. It's become like a chick flick highly entertaining so I am enjoying that. And I am supporting Preity and SRK as they are from the same fraternity.

How much of the game do you understand today?
I have always understood cricket.

What's a googly?
It's a bowling thing, where the ball bounces and goes in another direction.

Seema Khan
(wife of Sohail Khan)
Was the IPL match your first live cricket match?
Yes it was my first cricket match. It was very exciting and amazing so full of energy and great fun. It's certainly more fun to watch on the field than on TV.

Have you been converted into a cricket fan now?
Yes. I'm loving the game more than I did before because its 20 overs and not long drawn. IPL is very entertaining.

What does your husband think of your interest in cricket now?
He was more of a football buff but he's now watching it much more than he used to. In fact we have been watching the IPL matches together, which is quite cool and great fun.

How much of the game do you understand today?
I am learning more every day.

What's a googly?
I don"t know.

Maheep Kapoor
(Sanjay Kapoor's wife)
Was the IPL match your first live cricket match?
No. I have been to matches before in Australia. But I attended one in India after more than 10 years.

Have you been converted into a cricket fan now?
Yes. IPL is great fun because of the 20-over format. It's short and sweet. Also, it's fun supporting a team I'm passionate about as it's my friend's team. I'm supporting Kolkata Knight Riders. It's a blast watching the games together.

What does your husband Sanjay think of your interest in cricket now?
He is happy but he shouldn't get too carried away with my enjoyment. I like it because it's only 20 overs.

How much of the game do you understand today?
More than I used to about 50 per cent more.

What's a googly?
Please don't ask me that. I don't know.

Bhavna Pandey
(Chunkey Pandey's wife)
Was the IPL match your first live cricket match?
No. I love cricket as I have grown up watching matches with dad. I have seen England-Mumbai matches at Wankhede and an India-Pakistan match in Amsterdam.

Have you been converted into a cricket fan now?
Yes. Though I have always been one now because my friends are involved it's become a personal passion. Earlier it was patriotic. I'm supporting Kolkata Knight Riders.

What does your husband think of your interest in cricket now?
He's always known that I enjoy cricket so Chunky's not giving a thought. We would watch it together. I like only one-day matches, though. I can't sit through test cricket.

How much of the game do you understand today?
Much better than I used to about 75 per cent now. I know about the kind of balls thrown or the swing of bat, extra cover and run rates.

What's a googly?
The way the ball spins in a certain manner.

Shabina Khan
(designer)
Was the IPL match your first live cricket match?
I have always been a cricket fan but I love watching semi-finals and finals. But now because of the IPL the excitement, fun and ambience is much better.

Have you been converted into a cricket fan now?
No, not at all. I just like them because it's over in a few hours. I am supporting SRK's Kolkata Knight Riders though I don't know what I will do when they play against Delhi Daredevils which is Akshay's (Kumar) team (she designs for Akshay).

How much of the game do you understand today?
More than I used to.

What's a googly?
Yes it's a ball that goes over the batsman's head.

What's a googly?
In cricket, a googly is a type of delivery bowled by a right-arm leg spinner bowler. While a normal leg break spins from the leg to the off side, away from a right-handed batsman, a googly spins the other way, from off to leg, into a right-handed batsman.