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The charming and bubbly Bollywood actress Ayesh Takia will walk the ramp for designer friend Vikram Phadnis at the ninth International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, starting June 6 in Bangkok. 'I will be there for Vikram Phadnis, who is a very close friend of mine. He has designed some exclusive collections and it will be great fun to be there for him. Besides, I am also excited for my film ‘De Taali',' Ayesha told IANS.

Seen in films like 'Socha Naa Tha' and 'Sunday', Ayesha will also promote her forthcoming film 'De Taali' at IIFA.

'IIFA is a great platform where people from various parts of the world get to see a film. It opens the film to the whole world. I think this is an ideal platform to showcase and promote a film. I am very excited about it,' she said.

Directed by Eshwar Niwas and produced by Ravi Walia, the film is about love and friendship and presents Ayesha in a different incarnation along with Aftab Shivdasani, Ritiesh Deshmukh and Rimii Sen.

Explaining her role, the actress said: 'I play a tomboyish character for the first time in the film. My character is very close to Aftab and Ritiesh,' Ayesha said.

The three day IIFA weekend will start with the premiere of Ram Gopal Varma's 'Sarkar Raj'. The political thriller brings together Amitabh Bachchan, who is also the brand ambassador of IIFA, his son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai.

The event is expected to draw Bollywood fans to Bangkok from around the region.

Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan a long SMS to his team asking them to give their best in the remaining two IPL matches despite having virtually no chance of making it to the semi-finals.

The SMS, which was carried on the NDTV website, reads: "Story time boys... I told you if you keep losing you have to bear with my long, boring msgs.... This is your punishment.... Many times I have made movies which don't do well.... When I'm doing them, of course, I don't know they won't do well.... The story is written by somebody else and I just do my bit as an actor. But I have a way of dealing with flop stories, I try my best to keep my character in the film at a level that it makes a failed story also special for me...."

"I enjoy the work.... I make jokes about the failure.... And, of course, feel awful about it too.... So, right now, all of us have become part of a failed script... A bad IPL script.... Let's try and keep our characters worthy of still looking back at this story and remembering it as a special story becos we all worked very hard at this....

So, chin up and don't spoil yr character in the next two games.... Let's go out with a bang and not a whimper.... In films, we say u r only as good as yr last film.... So let's make the whole world know how good we r in the last (maybe not) two games..."

The actor also made it clear that there is no rift between him and captain Sourav Ganguly. According to some reports, both Shah Rukh and Ganguly fallen apart on several issues including team selection and also on coach John Buchanan being given more power by the owner in running the team.

"Also, do ignore all this bit about Dada, me and John having issues.... It's a normal thing in the world.... People like to hit you when u r down.... So, we will be hit.... No stress.... It will make us stronger.... The only way to avoid this is to win.... That's one of the reasons why everybody likes to be a winner...."

He also gave reasons for his absence from the stadium in the team's last match and added that till the rules are clear to him, he will not come to the stadiums to cheer the Knight Riders.

"I am still trying to understand the code of conduct expected of me at the matches of the IPL.... ICC... etc.... After I understand it, I will decide whether to accept it or not.... Till such time, I will be with you guys at the hotel... in the meetings etc., but won't come for the matches.... So, please don't ever feel it is anything to do with us as a team...."

"I am as dedicated to my Knights as I am to my kids.... Only, I won't be coming to the class room till the headmaster's rules are understood by me.... I am a bit anti-establishment kind of a guy, so I apologise for this quirk to u all.... So, head's up.... Have a good match and let's make 200 runs tomorrow.... This 150 seems to not work any more."

Taking a cue from governments multi-pronged initiative to 'help the business of movies in India', the Indian film industry was making its presence felt 'very strongly' here, Uday Verma, Additional Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry said.

'Last year, there was a focus here on India. This year we have no such advantage. Yet I am confident that as far as market opportunities go, this edition of the Cannes Film Market will be just as exciting and fruitful,' Verma said speaking at the formal opening of the India Pavilion in the Film Market of the 61st Cannes Festival.

The senior official also announced several other initiatives, including setting up of an academy of animation, gaming and visual effects to promote local talent in the fast growing segment of film-making.

The government was also planning to open a Museum of Moving Images, he added.

The restaurant, regarded as one of the London's most stylish venues, won laurels at the Theme Bar and Restaurant Awards where the judging panel was impressed its original concept and design.

Tamarai is part of Indian entrepreneur Rohit Khattar's chain of themed restaurants such as 'Chor Bizarre' and 'Sitaaray'.

'It is a great honour to be recognised by the leading industry magazine as the best among your peers. The whole Tamarai team has worked tirelessly to make every visit to our venue an unforgettable experience. We are thrilled that Theme Awards have acknowledged our efforts,' Anshuman Saxena, General Manager of the restaurant said.

Tamarai (which means Lotus in tamil), has already received praise for 'Best Wine List In London' from The Independent and 'Best Pan Asian Fusion Food In London' from The Evening Standard.

A Pan Asian restaurant, bar, late night club and an art gallery, it is also regarded as one of West End's most inspiring venues.

Launched in November 2006, Tamarai is the third London venue of the New Delhi-based Old World Hospitality.

Now in their seventh year, Theme Bar and Restaurant Awards are the industry standard designed to honour excellence among bar professionals and their venues and to bring together the best of design, technology and modern drinks.

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly said he hoped Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will repeat his last performance in tomorrow's crucial IPL tie and run through the Mumbai batting lineup.

'It is fantastic to be in the same side as him (Akhtar). So far I have been at the receiving end at all times,' Ganguly said here on Thursday. About his expectations from Akhtar, he said, 'That he gets Sanath Jayasurya, Sachin Tendulkar and Robin Uthappa out and finishes with five wickets.'

Akhtar, facing a five-year ban from the Pakistan Cricket Board which as been relaxed for a month, produced a match winning bowling spell in Kolkata's last game, taking four wickets to demolish the Delhi's batting lineup.

Ganguly said the Kolkata team had other quality fast bowlers like Ishant Sharma and Ajit Agarkar in their side and expected them to get some assistance from the pitch at the Wankhede here.

'We will hope to finish Sanath Jayasurya's run of form with the last game,' he said.

The tie against Mumbai would be important with the last five games expected to be the crucial ones, Ganguly said.

'No one is sure about their place in the semi finals and only the Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad) and Royal Challengers (Banglore) are behind. Other than that all other teams could qualify for the semi-finals,' the Kolkata captain said.

The Kolkata team had been affected by the departure of many of their players, but both the batting and bowling departments had done well even after that, Ganguly said.