The star and celebs from India and Pakistan had Dubai cheering through the weekend
Salman Khan seems to have a standard effect on women ages 16 through 60 (and younger and older). Whenever they spot him, they start cheering and clapping and whistling and screaming, and following him wherever he goes.
It was no different in Dubai this weekend, as Salman was at a celebrity cricket match at Dubai Sports City and a gala dinner at the World Trade Centre to promote his Being Human foundation. Though both the match and the gala dinner began hours later than scheduled, once Salman entered the picture, all that remained was a whole lot of cheering.
At the celebrity cricket match played at Dubai Sports City on May 27, Salman had a lot of starry company. In the Indian team were brothers Arbaaz and Sohail as well as Riteish Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sanjay Kapoor and Ashish Chaudhry, among other celebs. The Pakistani team was lead by Shoaib Akhtar and celebs playing included Moamar Rana, Atif Aslam, Humayun Sayed and Danish Haider. And everyone was there for Salman and Being Human. Earlier that day at a press conference to announce the match, Riteish had said, "Salman and his family have always stood for good things. Not everyone can be a leader. I am here to follow what Salman has started." Shoaib Akhtar had added, "I am always there for Salman and his family."
With Javed Jaffrey and Shakil compering, the match got off to a late but fun start as the teams practiced for some time and gave their fans lots to cheer about.
The Indian team won the toss and put the Pakistani team into bat. There was a reason for that decision - Shoaib Akhtar's fast bowling. Sohail Khan had said, "If we bat first, we'll be out in the first two overs." So the Pakistani celebs batted first and scored 120/2 in 15-overs. The Indian team looked like they were going to have a comfortable win, with Riteish playing particularly well but once he was out, there were tense moments. Shoaib Akhtar took two consecutive wickets in the last over, and the Indian team needed four runs from three balls. Then, what could have been a run-out became an overthrow. In the end, India won the match.
At the Being Human gala dinner at Maktoum Hall, World Trade Centre, on May 28, it was about causes as well as fashion. The evening included performances by Sophie Choudry, Wajid, Ahmad Jahanzeb and Adil Choudhary but the real sizzler was celebs walking the ramp in Being Human outfits.
As Indian and Pakistani stars – actors, singers, cricketers, and models - came together on the catwalk, looking cool in Being Human T-shirts and check shirts, with Salman as the showstopper, it was time for the loudest cheers. And when all the stars got together and started singing to 'You're my love' song from 'Partner', with Salman leading, it was jalwa time all over again.
