IIFA throw a surprise party 4 shilpz

When Shilpa turned 32 on Friday , she was extremely pained. "And not because of my age," she chuckles from Yorkshire where she's currently attending the IIFA. "I was having these muscle spasms for the last three days. So I was rehearsing for my performance with Shaimak Davar while undergoing physiotherapy. I thought, man what a way to bring in your birthday! When I went to sleep I prayed that the pain go away on my birthday. And it did! God has a way of listening to me. We're directly connected, you see."

What made Shilpa's birthday really special was the ovation she got at the IIFA function. "I was on stage with all these people when suddenly everyone in the auditorium burst into 'Happy Birthday' at midnight. It was embarrassing… but also very touching. After this utterly unexpected ushering-in of my birthday I went back to my hotel room where Dad and Mom had a cake for me to cut. To me 40,000 people singing in the auditorium was as precious as cutting the cake with my parents."

Shilpa did miss her sister Shamita for her birthday in Yorkshire . "Shamita is shooting the last song of Anubhav Sinha's Cash. After that she'll join me and my parents in London. But yes, I did miss her on my birthday."

On a more cheering note, she had surprise party thrown for her in Yorkshire. "The IIFA organizers have gone to so much trouble just because they got to know it was my birthday. I wasn't supposed to know about the party beforehand. But I sneaked a look at the card that announced the part, ha ha."

Birthday thoughts from the birthday girl. "It's been a tumultuous year for me. I never expected all these things to happen to me after Big Brother. But they did. I just want my coming year to be as eventful, if possible."

About her performance on stage at the IIFA, Shilpa chuckles, "I'm dancing to all the songs that I wish I had done on film. You could say this is my gift to myself."

Aww how sweet is that 😛