Rakul Preet shoots in the iconic Benfica stadium in Lisbon

Back from Portugal after shooting for a song sequence at the world renowned Estadio da Luz ��� also known as Sport Lisboa e Benfica (SLB), the home ground of Lisbon based Primeira League team Benfica ��� Rakul Preet Singh can���t seem to stop raving. ���It���s one of the biggest stadiums in the world, and people here told me that ours is the first film to be shot here.I shot for a couple days for a duet with Ram and it was so much fun. The best part was that I needed to be dressed in a football goalie���s outfit. It���s a first for me and I can brag to my grand children that I played football at the SLB. Oh boy, they love their football in Portugal,��� boasts Rakul who is filming for the Ram-starrer Pandaga Chesko directed by Mallineni Gopichand.
Recalling her interaction with the local sports club���s mascot, Vitoria, the eagle, more popularly known as Benfica Eagle, Rakul says, ���I don���t follow football much, but I was fascinated to learn about the eagle flying ceremony that precedes every home match here. Apparently, Vitoria flies around the stadium several times before landing on Benficia���s club shield, thereby creating a live version of the club���s emblem. It was huge, and I was scared to see it from close quarters. I wanted take a picture, but was afraid to go near it. I eventually had to take the picture in the club���s canteen. My face looks smaller than her beak, which is so sharp and her claws are bigger than my palm,��� adds Rakul who admits to have gone on a shopping spree during her stay.
���Portugal is famous for cakes and pastries. For the first seven days I controlled my diet, but I could not control my diet on the last day. I indulged in the world famous chocolate cake (The best chocolate cake in English), and even Ram ended up ordering a few boxes of chocolates from the factory. I bought five pairs of new shoes, apparels, three hand bags and a few artifacts. I went with an empty suitcase and ended up returning with two suitcases full of stuff,��� says Rakul signing off.