I have been on the run literally!! From airports to the press conference to matches to Interviews!! Flew in directly from London to Johannesburg the minute I heard the change in the IPL plans. At the moment on a flight to Cape Town that’s where the tournament starts on the 18th April. The logistics for my team is utmost priority and with less than three weeks before the IPL kicks off,  everything has to be in place. I am very proud of my management team at Rajasthan Royals and everyone has pulled together to make the impossible possible. Manoj Badale our chairman has the worst job I feel at this moment but under the circumstances is doing a fantastic job.

Kudos to the South African government and South Africa cricket body who have welcomed us with open arms and I am really hopeful after attending the Australia vs. South Africa Pro T20 Match on Friday, seeing the huge cricket fan base there, I am sure that the IPL  will be hugely successful. The pressure is really on this year especially for us (the reigning champions ) but I feel Rajasthan Royals have an edge since three of our players belong to the South African Team, namely Graeme Smith the captain of South Africa, Morne Morkel and Tyron Henderson.  It’s a once in a life time opportunity to watch legendary cricketers on one platform outside of India.  It is a pity that it won’t be happening in India but like they say what cannot be cured has to be endured.

Hats off to Mr. Lalit Modi who has really set a management example by pulling of an International Tournament that can take years of pre-planning in less than three weeks.

Last but not least I know my Rajasthan Royal fans are disappointed but hope they are not disillusioned since we will be back with a bigger bang next year. Stay tuned and keep cheering because we still need your true loyal support……Halla Bol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Was woken up with my phone ringing incessantly since 8am in the morning, London time… had a sneaky feeling about what it was going to be. Can’t explain it, but I just knew and there it was, what I was expecting but dreading… Jade had passed away at 3.14am in the morning. She put up a brave fight, lost her battle with cancer but won many a heart with her courage and how she dealt with it. My heart sunk on hearing the news, but in hindsight was glad she wasn’t in pain anymore and passed away peacefully in her sleep. She truly has brought about awareness for Cervical Cancer and hope young women learn the importance of getting smear tests done regularly to diagnose any early symptoms! I for one am getting one done soon. It’s not worth taking LIFE FOR GRANTED… Can’t articulate my feelings into words.

All I can say is she truly was a special person and even in her last moment all she could think of was securing her family’s future, she didn’t care how, but her goal was just that… She died a hero’s death. Hope her family gets the strength to cope with this irreparable loss. A special prayer goes out to Bobby and Freddie, her sons for whom this pain must be worse. It’s MOTHER’S DAY today and to lose a mom is just inexplicable. My heartfelt condolences and hope her soul rests in peace… at last.

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In London for some work and my 1st priority wanting to meet Jade, which is why I pre-poned my visit. Always felt she and I were connected in a strange way… I believe she was a catalyst and the architect of my fame in Britain… Felt terrible for what she had to go through after the Show, and I screamed my lungs hoarse to save the situation… but in vain. Anyway life brought us together again through Big Boss and that’s where we met and spoke after 2yrs… and went on to becoming friends… I really discovered a new Jade compared to the one I saw in Big Brother. I admired her spirit and the way she coped with her illness, I spoke to her a few days prior to her wedding, she sounded very happy, sadly I couldn’t make it. Thought I’d meet her when I come down, but then I heard about her health deteriorating and I rushed down hoping to see her. Little did I know that the last time I spoke to her would actually be the last time…

This experience has made me realize - Life’s too short to hold any grudges. All the arguments are so futile when you see the larger picture… am happy in a way I haven’t got to see her, it would’ve depressed me no end. I always want to remember her smiling, the feisty strong gregarious Jade, a true Trooper! it’s a helpless feeling, as long as she knows am here, which I don’t think she’s aware, cause she is unconscious, heavily drugged ‘cause the pain is excruciating - Max Clifford told me (we share the same publicist). I  feel even worse ‘cause maybe I could’ve met her if I was here 2 days earlier… Anyway in the current scenario I totally understand what the family must be going through and I respect their privacy and hope she and her family is able to cope with this inexplicable pain. It just makes me hold on to my near and dear ones and value them even more, cause life’s so unpredictable… this is the dance of life… enjoy every moment of the dance, cause you never know when the music will stop… you are in my prayers Jade… You are destiny’s child!

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The last two days have been really manic, going through a whole lot of different feelings, of happiness, excitement, uncertainty, and harrowed with obviously the nitty gritties of IPL. As you all are aware— Happy since I’ve launched 3 medispas, my new baby IOSIS on the 3rd. It’s a dream that I’ve always wanted to come true. Somewhere at the bottom of my heart, I always wanted to have my own spa and salon. Making this a medispa was something that I had imagined but didn’t think would be able to achieve so soon. My long term vision and ultimate goal being “Wellness India”, I hope to bring about a certain awareness to the younger generation regarding health and fitness and hope I can do it through my medi-spas, with the help of my nutritionists, dieticians, be able to put people on the right path of how to lose weight and maintain it. I think when you are healthier from within, it’s bound to show and reflect on the outside. I’ve been someone who’s synonymous with glamour. If people saw my pictures in the past, they would know exactly how much reinvention can really work for a person and I hope to do that through my spas and salons. I really wish that people can learn from my mistakes and I can pass down my tips on health and beauty making a few changes in their lives. It is a LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION and that’s what I intend on doing through Iosis.

Uncertainty because of rescheduling and reshuffling of the IPL dates. There was talk three days ago that the IPL season II might not happen. That would have been terrible, not just for the franchise owners, but also for the cricket fans all over India and the world ’cause everyone’s looking forward to this season. I’m really glad that yesterday after several meetings; they’ve come to a consensus that the inaugural match is going to happen in Mumbai. It’s sad that we’re not going to be able to play in Jaipur, which happens to be our home ground, but would like our Rajasthan fans to know that it was a decision that wasn’t left to us to take. We are just complying with the decision obviously that has been taken by the IPL board, the BCCI and obviously with the advice of the home ministry and State Government. So I guess what cannot be cured has to be endured and we’re doing just that. I’m glad that the games are happening at last and it would still live up to people’s expectations and more. Cant wait for the IPL to kickstart.

Exciting ’cause I am in Jaipur at the moment shooting for my music video for Rajasthan Royals. It’s going to be an anthem that pople are going to love. It’s called “HALLA BOL” and it’s something that has been made with a lot of love. It’s sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Anand Raaj Anand. Music has been composed by Anand Raaj Anand again and it’s been directed by Ken Ghosh and choreographed by Ahmed Khan. I’m really happy that I had my friends come on board and do such a great job with this video. We did want to keep the essence of Rajasthan which is why we decided to shoot in Jaipur. There’s been a lot of things going through my head in the last 4-5 days, but in the midst of all this tension, my heart’s bursting with excitement and I really hope everything goes smoothly. It’s really sad whatever has happened in Pakistan and what the Sri Lankan cricketers had to go through. It was a sad day for cricket. Hope we are able to overcome all of that and things are smooth sailing and hope people don’t bring down the spirit of the game. Cricket is a game that brings together different countries and I hope we’re able to be good hosts here in India and give security to our cricketers and fans and that is of paramount importance.

Phew!!! So that’s what’s been happening in a nutshell. This was a long one, but I had to share all this with you, since I hadnt for a few days. Signing off will write sooner. Love Shilpa!

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Yesterday was a hard day. Shooting at Putrajaya in Malaysia, at 40 degrees celsius, humid and sweaty, trying to finish the scene because it was the last day’s shoot of the schedule. Then I leave for Chennai. Just then I got a call from home informing me about Simba (my pet Persian cat) passing away. We’ve had him for nearly ten years and he survived a renal failure once before but not this time. I was shattered… The loss of a pet is inexplicable and excruciating pain. Anybody who has a pet or who las lost one would understand! My Dad has only ever cried thrice, twice before when we lost Shonali (my white Persian Siamese, 12 years), then Munna (black Persian, 16 years), and yesterday. We’ve always had pets since the last 20 years. It started with Shamita bringing home a stray cat and dad saying that if we were to have one, then we should have a decent breed (he wasnt serious). But we didn’t lose the opportunity and the next day we brought Shonali home (obviously with mum’s support and permission). Dad  hit the roof and said - “it’s either the cat or me!” and the answer made him laugh. Okay, its the cat! (I was 10 and Shamita was 6 yrs old). Since then we’ve had 8 cats and their kittens. They are a part of our family now, give you unconditional love and dont look for anything in return, not even a bath!

Anyway, for some consolation I’m glad I didn’t see (Simba) go — I only remember him mewing and purring into my ears in the morning, then unfailingly looking for attention every morning by sitting on the newspaper while I was trying to read it at the breakfast table. I am glad he didn’t suffer and lived a good long life… will miss you Simba!

On a flight to Chennai now, from Malaysia. Going to visit the Oneness temple, looking forward to meeting my Guru Bhagwaan. That will definitely recharge my batteries again. P.S. Will write sooner. Keep writing in.

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