Hyderabad: Telugu movie star Akkineni Nagarjuna who has also starred in several Hindi movies, met BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening and announced that India needed a "change" which Modi as Prime Minister should usher in.

"I would like Modi to become the Prime Minister and expand the Gujarat model of development across the country," Nagarjuna said after an hour-long meeting with the Gujarat Chief Minister.

However, Nagarjuna maintained that he would not enter politics and did not seek a Lok Sabha ticket either for him or his wife Amala.

"All stories in the media about our seeking election tickets is baseless. We have not sought and will not seek tickets," Nagarjuna, son of late Telugu thespian Akkineni Nageswara Rao asserted.

Nagarjuna is the second top Telugu movie star after union minister K Chiranjeevi's youngest brother Pawan Kalyan to have met Modi in the past one week and wish he becomes the Prime Minister.

Pawan Kalyan recently floated his own political outfit called Jana Sena and also supported Modi. For the record, Nagarjuna said that he met Modi only to know more about Gujarat's development.

"I was amazed to see Internet and also wi-fi even in a village. There is uninterrupted power supply across Gujarat, whereas the place where I live in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, has a three-hour power cut," Nagarjuna said.

"I was also amazed to see a river front in Gujarat, which I have seen only in China and some other countries.

It will be nice if Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister and translates this development to other parts of the country as well," Nagarjuna said.

On the other hand, Nagarjuna meeting BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is just an Election campaigning stunt, says Political analysts.

Bollywood megastar Amitabh bachchan is a Brand ambassador for Gujarat Tourism. Big B also promotes Kalyan Jewellers, one of the Businesses of Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna and Amitabh bhachahan share a good relation.

Nagarjuna would have decided to promote Narendra Modi by meeting him without any specific reason, because of the above said reasons.

As per the TV reports, BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu and Big B Amitab Bhachchan are responsible for Nagarjuna meeting Modi.

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The United Arab Emirates was on Wednesday awarded the hosting rights of 20 matches in the IPL's first leg with defending champions Mumbai Indians opening the tournament by squaring off against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 16 in Abu Dhabi.

The IPL Governing Council announced the schedule for the first phase of the tournament after a meeting here. The UAE leg of the IPL, a part of which has been shifted out of the country due to general elections, will wind up on April 30 with Mumbai facing Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai.

The opening match on April 16 will be played in Abu Dhabi between @mipaltan and @KKRiders (8 pm IST/6:30 pm local), the IPL organisers announced in a series of tweets.

20 matches will be played in 3 stadiums: Sheikh Zayed Stadium- Abu Dhabi, Sharjah CA Stadium, Dubai International Cricket Stadium #PepsiIPL. The IPL GC has confirmed that the first phase of the #PepsiIPL 2014 season matches will be played in the UAE from April 16-30, another tweet said.

The second leg of the tournament has been tentatively kept for Bangladesh but could be held in India between May 1-12 if the government agrees to provide security to the event.

The IPL has been refused security by the government as its schedule is clashing with the general elections, scheduled to be held in nine phases from April 7 to May 12. The last leg of the IPL from May 13, including the play-offs and the final slated for June 1, will be held in India.

This is the second time the event has had to be forced out of the country due to elections. In 2009, the entire tournament had to be shifted to South Africa, a country which was in contention to host the event even this time. Due to the lesser number of teams, the duration of the league has also been shortened this time to 47 days and 60 matches  much less than the 76 games played last season which was spread over 54 days.

The schedule of the second and third phase of the tournament will be released later.

schedule of First phase of IPL 7

Match 1: Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders - April 16, 2014

Match 2: Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - April 17, 2014

Match 3: Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab - April 18, 2014

Match 4: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals - April 18, 2014

Match 5: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians - April 19, 2014

Match 6: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils - April 19, 2014

Match 7: Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab - April 20, 2014

Match 8: Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils - April 21, 2014

Match 9: Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - April 22, 2014

Match 10: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings - April 23, 2014

Match 11: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders - April 24, 2014

Match 12: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Daredevils - April 25, 2014

Match 13: Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians - April 25, 2014

Match 14: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - April 26, 2014

Match 15: Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders - April 26, 2014

Match 16: Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians - April 27, 2014

Match 17: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings - April 27, 2014

Match 18: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab - April 28, 2014

Match 19: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals - April 29, 2014

Match 20: Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - April 30, 2014

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Pawan kalyan to meet Narendra Modi tommorrow

Hyderabad: Going by sources, Pawan Kalyan is going to meet BJP PM candidate-Gujarat CM Narendra Modi . "Pawan Kalyan may meet Modi Tomorrow (March 20). If not, Pawan will meet Modi during the latter's visit to Vijayawada which is scheduled to take place this month end," top sources in the know revealed.

We hear that Narendra Modi too quite impressed with a youngster and popular actor like Pawan. Pawan, who floated his own political outfit Jana Sena and given a call 'Congress Hatao, Desh Bachao', has taken youth by storm.

In fact, Pawan's speech too hinted that the star hero is likely to join forces with Narendra Modi. Chanting of words like Sanathana Dharma, Patriotism, Congress Hatao and taking inspiration from the leaders like Bhagat Singh, Subash Chandra Bose and Chandra Sekhar Ajad are giving clear impression that Pawan is inclined towards BJP. Pawan is of the opinion that BJP alone has strength to wipe out Congress in nation wide. So, there are clear chances of Pawan joining Narendra Modi brigade.

That's not all. Pawan is closely observing the reactions to his speech. He may organize 'Meet the Press' soon by the end of this month . Pawan has decided to launch his book which is expected to clarify all the doubts if any.

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Venkatesh to remake Malayalam Block buster

Venkatesh-starrer "Drushyam", a Telugu remake of recent Malayalam blockbuster "Drishyam", is currently being shot in Idukki district of Kerala where most of the original was filmed.

"Most of the film will be shot in Kerala, similar to locations from the original. Only for few scenes, the unit will shoot in other places outside the state. The first schedule of the film will be wrapped up soon," the film's spokesperson said.

Being directed by Sripriya and produced by Suresh Production, "Drushyam" also features Meena, Nadhiya and Esther in important roles.

"Drishyam", which is about a man's effort to cover up a murder committed by his family, featured superstar Mohanlal in the lead.

The original is also being remade in Tamil and Kannada. While Kamal Haasan will play the lead in the Tamil version, veteran actor Ravichandran will be seen in the lead role in Kannada.

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