Rituparna along with Gauri and Shah Rukh Khan. (Below) Usha Uthup beside Robert Vadra. Pictures by Santosh Ghosh

Usha Uthup

Who invited you to the match?

Shah Rukh invited me personally over phone. And I wanted to be there. I thought I won’t be able to make it as I was in Thiruvananthapuram. But I decided to return to Calcutta, come what may. On reaching home, I dressed in a black sari with my trademark K bindi and gold jewellery, and reached the stadium at around 4pm.

Could you chat with Shah Rukh during the match?

More than Shah Rukh, I interacted with his wife Gauri. Shah Rukh was constantly cheering the players. He is so energetic! I told him that he has become four shades darker in the heat. He kept shouting korbo, lorbo, jeetbo re...

What songs were you singing?

I sang Zindagi mein jitna hi jitna from my own compositions for the IPL. I also sang Knight Riders don’t worry, Knight Riders amra tomari Kolkata. The atmosphere was electrifying. Everyone was dancing, cheering and singing. But we were a bit sad with the power cut, though that could not take away the spirit of the people. We kept cheering and singing. For a moment we thought there would be a tie but then it was great that we won!

Which was your most exciting moment?

When Knight Riders hit a six after a long time and that changed the course of the match! I think it’s the magic of cricket. The game could bring so many people from different fields under one roof. The experience has been truly amazing for all of us.

Rituparna Sengupta

Who invited you to the party?

I was shooting in Bolpur for Suman Mukhopadhyay’s Chaturanga when I received a call from a Mumbai number. I thought it was a journalist as my film Sirf… Life Looks Greener on the Other Side is supposed to release. But then my phone went on ringing and when I picked up, the voice on the other side said, “I’m Juhi.” I realised who she was only when she said she was Juhi Chawla Mehta. Juhi invited me to the match and I said I would make it. Sumanda really co-operated and I reached Eden Gardens by 5.30pm on Sunday.

And Juhi played the perfect hostess...

Yes, Juhi and her husband Jay took me to the box. Then she guided me to where Shah Rukh and (wife) Gauri were sitting. She introduced me to them. Juhi is such a beautiful human being. She took such good care of me. She SMSed me the next morning, requesting me to be present at every match. She said that I was lucky for the team!

Did you chat with Shah Rukh and Gauri?

Yes, Juhi introduced me to Shah Rukh and he said, “Of course I know you Ritu.” Gauri was too busy with her kids (Aryan and Suhana). They were really impatient but Shah Rukh was never impatient with them. He answered all their silly questions in between cheering the players. He kept saying “my boys will win”, with his eyes fixed on the scoreboard.

Did you join in the chorus?

Of course, I did. Ushadi was there and we were all singing. There was Arjun Rampal, Karan Johar, Farhan Akhtar, Neelam and we were all cheering together. The music was on too. There were songs from Shah Rukh’s films apart from Rang De Basanti and Jab We Met.

Which designer’s dress were you sporting?

I didn’t have time to choose my clothes properly as I reached Calcutta really late. I had consulted Agni (Agnimitra Paul) and Chandrani Singh Flora. But then I wore something from my personal wardrobe. I chose a white Dolce & Gabbana halter-neck and teamed it with a black skirt and white stilettos. The golden belt was by Agni and I think it matched the Knight Riders outfit!