Action Replay

Bollywood is taking over the IPL in more ways than one. On Wednesday, Bollywood director Sanjay Gupta was in Bangalore to shoot the promo reels for Bangalore Royal Challengers. Gupta first got Martin Crowe, the team's chief cricket officer, to give a 'pep talk' to "the boys" in a set designed like a dressing room inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Then the team coach, Venkatesh Prasad, was filmed giving the bowling attack, including Zaheer Khan, a strategy lesson. Finally, there was Crowe and Rahul Dravid, the captain, drawing 'gameplans' on a board. Crowe and Prasad got through their shots with professional ease but Dravid looked distinctly uncomfortable in front of the camera. To his consternation, he was later made to stretch out on the ground outside, strapped on to a crane camera apparatus, in full cricket gear, with the bat outstretched to simulate a run-out situation. The shoot will continue over the next two days.