IPL has changed the definition of cricket: Dia Mirza

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COLOMBO - Actress Dia Mirza says Indian Premier League (IPL) has changed the whole definition of cricket by mixing glamour and fun.

“Before IPL, cricket wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but today everyone is talking about the IPL,” said Dia while speaking at the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum here Friday.

Speaking on the topic “India, Sri Lanka and the Future of ‘Cricketainment’ “, the actress added: “Today, IPL is equal to ‘cricketainment’, which means that is is a mix of glamour and fun. IPL has changed the whole meaning of cricket by making it more fun.”

“IPL has been able to mix sports and entertainment in such a way that it is no more a male domain and every member of a family is taking keen interest in the game.”

Dia also added that sport, arts and entertainment are three such mediums that connect people from diverse backgrounds, strengthen relationships and build bonds.

“In Bollywood, you have examples of movies like ‘Chak De! India’ and ‘Lagaan’ that were sports oriented and they were huge success - theatres were jam-packed. It clearly shows that sports is an integral part of cinema.”

This year the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony is being hosted by Sri Lankan capital, but back home the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) was not happy and said it would boycott all Bollywood stars who attend the event in Colombo.

The SIFCC wanted the venue to be shifted out of Sri Lanka following allegations of a genocide against Sri Lankan Tamils during the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and continuing discrimination against them.

But despite opposition, a bevy of Bollywood stars - among them Salman Khan, Lara Dutta, Bipasha Basu and Anupam Kher - have come to attend the function.

“IIFA is doing a great job by organising such initiatives that are helping two different nations to built the bridges,” said Dia.