A scoop of 'Shilpa's Delight'
Shilpa Shetty
After a formal meeting with Tony Blair, the actor headed to the real action — in Leicester
The cold, bitter weather in London could have been a deterrent, but nothing could come in the way of our first meeting with Shilpa Shetty after her 'Celebrity Big Brother' win. So, there we were queuing up outside the House of Commons, early morning at nine.
The security, as expected, was tight. The foreign media, present in full force, was abuzz with excitement.
Shilpa, who looked radiant in a white Neeta Lulla saree, was accompanied by her mother Sunanda and British MP Keith Vaz. Soon after, she was ushered inside the Parliament, where she met PM Tony Blair.
The British media was allowed inside and the Indian media was asked to stay out. Ironic, considering we had come to London to celebrate Shilpa's win against racism! The security, too, was rude and suspicious.
Shilpa's meeting with Blair went off well. "I had smoked Salmon and a whole lot of things. He is a charming, witty man!" she later revealed. Vaz informed us that they had a dessert named after Shilpa, 'Shilpa's Delight'. Finally when we did manage to have a little chat with her, she said she was enamoured by the situation and it is yet to sink in.
'Young, white children say I'm their inspiration'
Why did you retract from your statement that Jade Goody is racist?
When I was in the house, I was really upset with Jade's comments. I was hurting....I did say it was racism on the show, but I meant it was about manners and culture. I didn't know it would create so much difference outside because I didn't know what was happening.
When I was later asked if I thought I was a victim of racism, I said no because I was worried that it would hurt the sentiments of Asians living here. I didn't want to instigate them.
Were you told to retract the statement…
Not true. I don't know what happened between Jade and them, but I was never told to retract the statement.
Why were people booing you after you won and walked out of the 'Big Brother' house?
I was surprised too, but later learnt that they were paid by loyalists of other contestants. I got 63 per cent votes! It was not only Asians but also British people who voted for me. I have young white children coming to me and saying I have been an inspiration. I am truly humbled. I cannot leave this country not being grateful.
What really happened with Bobby Khan and Jazz Burton, your agents? They're insisting that you have cheated them…
I had never signed the two of them as my agents. I admit that Bobby was instrumental in getting me the contract, but that's about it...
(Sunanda cuts in) We will be suing them for defamation. Jazz signed some contracts on her own and then comes to us and says bail me out or I will be in trouble...we said, sorry we can't do anything, you will have to get out of it yourself. No one has the right to sign contracts on Shilpa's behalf. I am her power of attorney
Have you met Jade yet?
No, I hear she is in a rehab centre.
Soon after, we were packed off to go to Leicester, the countryside which apparently had sent in the most number of votes for Shilpa. Leicester is Vaz's constitution and has about 60 per cent Indians living there.
Leicester was something else altogether. More than two thousand screaming fans were waiting for Shilpa to arrive. She was mobbed by the fans, there were 'We love you Shilpa' banners everywhere...kids and women were crying, men were screaming out aloud...it was mayhem!
The radio stations were screaming, 'Shilpa, the queen of Bollywood is here!' Shilpa perhaps has never recieved this kind of accolades in her lifetime as an actor.
cheers
resh
Pushpa Impossible
