That's right. Being a victim of racism is turning out to be a win-win situation for Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty. No publicity is bad publicity. Who would have thought that a story on UK's Celebrity Big Brother would hog headlines even in international media. Forget Aishwarya and Abhishek's wedding - Shilpa is the most talked about person in India right now.The friendly neighbourhood aunt arrives early in the morning to borrow a bowl of sugar - and asks how Shilpa is doing. At the office, people are no longer interested in cricket or Sachin - it's the latest racist remark on Big Brother that's fuelling workplace gossip. The weather is no longer a conversation starter at Page 3 parties -Shilpa Shetty has taken over top spot.
People in Patna are burning effigies of Shilpa's housemates and the issue threatens to snowball into a diplomatic war between India and Great Britain. You have Gordon Brown and Tony Blair talking about it. What more does Shilpa need. A statement from Osama bin Laden threatening to bomb the headquarters of series producer Endemol and broadcaster Channel Four? Well, that might just be in the pipeline.
As for me, I have been inundated by mails asking how and where to get video footage of Big Brother. For the record, you can get it on the show's official site here.
The Last Word: Is there racism on the show? Yes, there is but what people don't realise is that this racism stems from Shilpa's beauty and grace which is making the other woman housemates insanely jealous. The men on the show are going ga-ga over Shilpa and the women can't handle it. Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd are not getting enough attention from Dirk Benedict, Jermaine Jackson and Ian Watkins. And the only way they can get back at Shilpa is through racist comments. You don't believe me! What about Jade's threat to headbutt Shilpa?
Anyway, whether Shilpa wins the Big Brother contest or not, she will certainly benefit from renewed interest in her flagging Bollywood career. And that is what I call a win-win situation.
Update: And win she did. Hurrah!
Watch Videos
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS of Shilpa's stint on Big Brother
Shilpa wins: The final moments
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11: Part Two
Day 11
Day 10: Part Two
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1
ALSO READ
SPOOF - Shilpa nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
COMMENT - Of India, Sexual Racism and Shilpa Shetty
ANALYSIS - Racism on Big Brother: Shilpa Shetty to win
FORUM - Racism on Big Brother
Shilpa says Jade's behaviour not racial
VIDEOS
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act
you know what scares me or rather disgusts me about this whole incident..... it brings out the herd mentality in india. how many people have seen the entire series to judge for themselves, if shilpa shetty is being unfairly picked up against BECAUSE of her race only????? racism is ingrained in human beings sub concsiously... even indians call foriegners firangs.... this whole burning effigies drama screams that people here are like puppets that can be controlled, and it only takes stupid delusional reality tv stars to do that to a democracy of one billion, not to mention raise a debate between the goverments.... i agree, miss shetty must be feeling like super woman.... and if the house guests dont get news, and come out of the show...they are sure to die of a heart attack...at least one, i am betting..
ReplyDeleteGypsy: I wonder which one
ReplyDelete"flagging Bollywood career"? so she's not just there to represent her country then, more to lift her own profile?
ReplyDeleteAll those protestations of altruistic intent of Shilpa's, somehow sound a little hollow now.
gypsy, I think you've hit the nail on the head.
ReplyDeletei agree, miss shetty must be feeling like super woman/gypsy
ReplyDeletestupid comment.
no she is not!!!
she is too much of lady to feel that. and stop doing a jade by trying to asume things about shilpa.
jealousy rears its ugly head
good site
ReplyDeletehttp://www.childplanet.us/
Annoymous, you seem to believe that being a lady infers sainthood.. and that ladies can never have less than morally correct intentions.
ReplyDeleteNaive?
there is no question of me being naive. I have seen the entire episode and shilpa has done no wrong.
ReplyDeleteyou are only basing your judgement on assumptions that no one can be a lady and be good --the same mistake Jade made!
you are the one who made the assumption of what she may be thinking.
exactly the same assumption Jade made. what is the difference between you and her? none
lady is not sainthood. dont twist the words.
*xyz*