Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar have been nominated in best performance in a supporting role, male, while Kalki Koechlin has been nominated in best actress in supporting role, female. Musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have been nominated for music direction, while Javed Akhtar for best lyrics for "Khaabon ke Parindey".

The film has also been nominated in the best story category. Other nominations include technical categories.

Milan Luthria's "The Dirty Picture" has bagged 13 nominations including best actress for Vidya for playing southern sex symbol Silk Smitha. Other nominations include best picture, best direction, best performance in supporting role male for Emraan Hashmi and Naseerudding Shah.

Naseer has also been nominated in the best actor in a negative role category. "The Dirty Picture" has also bagged nomination for best story, best lyrics and best playback singer male for Kamaal Khan for "Ishq Sufiyana".

Kamaal Khan will vie for the winner's trophy with Ash King for "I love you", Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for "Teri meri", Mika Singh for "Subha hone na de" and Mohit Chauhan for "Nadaan parindey". Singer Shreya Ghoshal has bagged two nominations for her songs "Teri Meri" and "Ooh la la".

In best performance in the leading role male category, Hrithik will be competing along with Amitabh Bachchan for "Aarakshan", Salman Khan for "Bodyguard", Shah Rukh Khan for " Don 2 ", Ranbir Kapoor for "Rockstar" and Ajay Devgn for "Singham". The nominations of best performance in a leading role female include Priyanka Chopra for "7 Khoon Maaf", Kareena Kapoor for "Bodyguard", Mahie Gill for "Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster" and Kangna Ranaut for "Tanu Weds Manu".

Those competing in best performance in supporting role female are Parineeti Chopra for "Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl", Swara Bhaskar for "Tanu Weds Manu", Sonali Kulkarni for "Singham" and Divya Dutta for "Stanley Ka Dabba". The nominations for best performance in a negative role include Irrfan Khan for "7 Khoon Maaf", Boman Irani for "Don 2", Vidyut Jamwal for "Force" and Prakash Raj for "Singham".

"We at IIFA take pride in announcing the nominees for IIFA Awards 2012 which celebrate the best work done by the Indian Film Industry over the last year," Sabbas Joseph, director, Wizcraft International Entertainment said in a statement. "We are thoroughly pleased with the nominees a result of the film industry's secret ballot; and we hope the audience will make a worthy choice in deciding the winners of this year's IIFA accolades," he added (less)

Or that's what Shreya Narayan would like us to believe. Shreya who won critical acclaim in her last screen outing (Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster) was in Vadodara to shoot her next film Palchhin.

She says with a sarcastic smile, "There have been occasions when the roles offered seemed pretty meaty at the time of auditions, but turned out to be blink-and-miss appearances after the films were edited and finally hit the screens! It has happened so many times that I am immune to the entire process." However, she adds, "I kept working hard and left the rest to God.

The only thing that I have learnt, being an outsider in this industry, is that perseverance always pays and one mustn't leave it midway while pursuing one's dreams. If you are at it whole-heartedly, things will happen.

" Did she expect Saheb , Biwi Aur Gangster would catapult her to fame? "I had a feeling that it would succeed at the box office, because Tigmanshu Dhulia is really good at his craft. But the critical acclaim came as a pleasant surprise.

" she admits. About her role in Palchhin, she shares, "I play a very simple, everyday girl with dreams.

It's a story about relationships and I believe this will be a huge leap for me as an actress. I haven't signed any other film as yet because I believe I have to go a step ahead with every film.

If that means waiting for the right projects, then so be it. Working with director Sudhanshu Shekhar Jha has been a pleasure, who is very precise with the story and knows how to make characters stand out.

" Interestingly, Shreya happens to be the great grand niece of Dr. Rajendra Prasad , the first President of independent India.

But she prefers not to talk much about it, saying, "My success has to be my own, and I don't want to use anyone's name. I have struggled a lot to reach where I am today.

But I am grateful to my ancestors for giving me this belief that it's possible to achieve anything if you dream." For someone born into a family of academicians, it couldn't have been easy to convince her family about pursuing a career in films.

Ask her that and she wittily quips, "May be, the scholarly background made them more tolerant towards me!" Shreya, who has done a lot of theatre, feels, "Theatre gives instant gratification as an actor, as you don't have to wait for months to know the reaction of the audiences. But then, films give you a chance to make history, isn't it?" So how is she off screen? "I am in love with writing and my only hobbies are reading and writing.

Both give me an emotional high." she signs off (less)

It was a game between 'Palchhin XI' and 'Baroda CA-XI', and there was some good cricket plus entertainment on offer for viewers. Actor Chandrachur Singh was at his attacking best and played some wonderful shots much to the delight of the crowd, while Sanjay Suri wasn't far behind either.

In between, petite beauty Chitrashi Rawat of 'Chak De! India' fame, who happens to be a national level hockey player, was seen trying her hands at bowling leg spin! Well, it looks like the likes of Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla have some 'beautiful' competition on their hands! Actors Shreya Narayan and Auroshikha Dey were also seen cheering for their team and also trying their hands at batting. An enjoyable and fun-filled occasion, no doubt.

The match was followed by lunch and then there was a prize distribution ceremony in the hands of Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, scion of the erstwhile royal family of Baroda (less)

" Guzaarish is completely composed by him. I think somewhere music inspires films for him.

For me he is the encyclopedia of good music. He has heard so much that he is just superb," Shreya told PTI.

"Judging with Sanjayji and Sonu makes it even more special, because the credibility, the musical expanse that is associated with both of them. They are the cream of music icons today," she said.

Shreya made her debut as a playback singer in Bhansali's Devdas , for which she received both the Filmfare award for Best Female Playback Singer and the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. The 27-year-old singer, who had caught Bhansali's attention as a participant in music-based reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa , sang five songs in the film - Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka, Bairi Piya, Chalak Chalak, Morey Piya and Dola Re Dola .

On 'X-factor', Shreya says, "One is born with X-factor . Usually one feels X-factor is something where people jump and show their enthusiasm and all that.

Most of our singers don't do that. Lataji does not do that and she is magnificent.

It is not specific what X-factor actually is..

.it has to be captivating.

" The singer says X-factor reminds her of her Sa Re Ga Ma Pa days. "When I am meeting these people.

..

its like knock-knock, I am being reminded of my old days. I can feel the same energy.

Due to non-stop work, stage shows, reality shows everything was blur but this show has stopped me and made me think about my journey. I am getting very emotional in this whole process.

" (less)

" Guzaarish is completely composed by him. I think somewhere music inspires films for him.

For me he is the encyclopedia of good music. He has heard so much that he is just superb," Shreya told PTI.

"Judging with Sanjayji and Sonu makes it even more special, because the credibility, the musical expanse that is associated with both of them. They are the cream of music icons today," she said.

Shreya made her debut as a playback singer in Bhansali's Devdas , for which she received both the Filmfare award for Best Female Playback Singer and the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. The 27-year-old singer, who had caught Bhansali's attention as a participant in music-based reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa , sang five songs in the film - Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka, Bairi Piya, Chalak Chalak, Morey Piya and Dola Re Dola .

On 'X-factor', Shreya says, "One is born with X-factor . Usually one feels X-factor is something where people jump and show their enthusiasm and all that.

Most of our singers don't do that. Lataji does not do that and she is magnificent.

It is not specific what X-factor actually is..

.it has to be captivating.

" The singer says X-factor reminds her of her Sa Re Ga Ma Pa days. "When I am meeting these people.

..

its like knock-knock, I am being reminded of my old days. I can feel the same energy.

Due to non-stop work, stage shows, reality shows everything was blur but this show has stopped me and made me think about my journey. I am getting very emotional in this whole process.

" (less)

Meher tells us that the 26-year-old singer called them on the morning of her show and said that she wanted to wear one of their designs. "We sent over four dresses and she picked this one instantly.

Shreya said it was just the kind of sophisticated look she wanted." It's a cool look too with the three colours - navy, grey and black - creating a shimmering vibe.

We approve! Shreya Ghoshal's a singing diva and also a style diva we think. We loved this pure silk drape she wore at the Ek Shaam Aapke Naam concert, designed by Dubai's very own Meher & Riddhima.

Meher tells us that the 26-year-old singer called them on the morning of her show and said that she wanted to wear one of their designs. "We sent over four dresses and she picked this one instantly.

Shreya said it was just the kind of sophisticated look she wanted." It's a cool look too with the three colours - navy, grey and black - creating a shimmering vibe.

We approve! Shreya Ghoshal's a singing diva and also a style diva we think. We loved this pure silk drape she wore at the Ek Shaam Aapke Naam concert, designed by Dubai's very own Meher & Riddhima.

Meher tells us that the 26-year-old singer called them on the morning of her show and said that she wanted to wear one of their designs. "We sent over four dresses and she picked this one instantly.

Shreya said it was just the kind of sophisticated look she wanted." It's a cool look too with the three colours - navy, grey and black - creating a shimmering vibe.

We approve! Shreya Ghoshal's a singing diva and also a style diva we think. We loved this pure silk drape she wore at the Ek Shaam Aapke Naam concert, designed by Dubai's very own Meher & Riddhima.

Meher tells us that the 26-year-old singer called them on the morning of her show and said that she wanted to wear one of their designs. "We sent over four dresses and she picked this one instantly.

Shreya said it was just the kind of sophisticated look she wanted." It's a cool look too with the three colours - navy, grey and black - creating a shimmering vibe.

We approve! Shreya Ghoshal's a singing diva and also a style diva we think. We loved this pure silk drape she wore at the Ek Shaam Aapke Naam concert, designed by Dubai's very own Meher & Riddhima.

Meher tells us that the 26-year-old singer called them on the morning of her show and said that she wanted to wear one of their designs. "We sent over four dresses and she picked this one instantly.

Shreya said it was just the kind of sophisticated look she wanted." It's a cool look too with the three colours - navy, grey and black - creating a shimmering vibe.

We approve! Shreya Ghoshal's a singing diva and also a style diva we think. We loved this pure silk drape she wore at the Ek Shaam Aapke Naam concert, designed by Dubai's very own Meher & Riddhima.

Meher tells us that the 26-year-old singer called them on the morning of her show and said that she wanted to wear one of their designs. "We sent over four dresses and she picked this one instantly.

Shreya said it was just the kind of sophisticated look she wanted." It's a cool look too with the three colours - navy, grey and black - creating a shimmering vibe.

We approve! Shreya Ghoshal's a singing diva and also a style diva we think. We loved this pure silk drape she wore at the Ek Shaam Aapke Naam concert, designed by Dubai's very own Meher & Riddhima.

Meher tells us that the 26-year-old singer called them on the morning of her show and said that she wanted to wear one of their designs. "We sent over four dresses and she picked this one instantly.

Shreya said it was just the kind of sophisticated look she wanted." It's a cool look too with the three colours - navy, grey and black - creating a shimmering vibe.

We approve! (less)