Indian cricket ace Harbhajan Singh makes a splash with actress Geeta Basra at the Buddh Circuit

Even as reports of India offie Harbhajan Singh marrying Bollywood starlet Geeta Basra emerged recently, the two made their relationship quite obvious as they toured the pit lane together yesterday before the start of the Indian GP.

Bhajji who has recently been dropped from the Indian team for the England ODIs as well as the upcoming Tests against West Indies, looked very relaxed in the company of the actress, who ensured she had her man nearby at all times even as some female fans greeted and got themselves clicked with the eligible bachelor.

Basra was in fact eager, to get her picture clicked along with the cricketer too, and when she failed to draw his attention on a couple of occasions, she muscled her way through the crowd yelling: "Bhaj... Bhaj... can I get a picture too please." He obviously obliged.

Viru plays it straight

India opening batsman Virender Sehwag is known to speak his mind, and yesterday he gave another glimpse of just that at the pit lane before the start of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. When MiD DAY asked Viru if he's a fan of the Schumachers or the Hamiltons, he shot back: "I'm not a Schumacher or Vettel fan.

I'm here for Force India and I'm a Force India fan." Never mind that he got the team's name incomplete, considering the Sahara group have just pumped in a 100 million to get their name and ideology associated with the only Indian F1 team.

'F1 is definitely a sport'

Though the Indian government is yet to ascertain whether Formula One is a sport or lifestyle entertainment, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has no doubt in his mind.

"Oh, it's definitely a sport. Just looking at what all the drivers go through... their fitness regime, etc leaves absolutely no doubt that it's a sport, " Abdullah told MiD DAY in the pit lane yesterday before the start of the inaugural Indian GP.

Bad man loves fast cars

Bollywood baddie Gulshan Grover raised quite a few eyebrows yesterday when he revealed that he was one of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's personal invitees to the Indian GP. India batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar obviously tops that list.

"Of course I love fast cars and that's why I'm here too, " added Grover. One onlooker justified Grover's claim. "He is India's most famous villain in Hollywood, having done a host of films there, so that's how he must have gotten close to Bernie."

Riteish is a Schumi fan

Bollywood actor and son of former Maharashtra chief minister Riteish Deshmukh was overjoyed at being in the pit lane area of the inaugural Indian GP. "My heart is in support of Sahara Force India but I'm a huge (Michael) Schumacher fan. Ya (Sebastian) Vettel is doing well but Schumi is the reason that I follow Formula One racing."