Worshipped in India, bullied by wannabes in Big Brother

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Before Bollywood darling Shilpa Shetty went into the Big Brother house, her aim was to “clear out the misconceptions about Indian people”. Two weeks later, she’s in the public eye for a different reason, following more than 13,000 viewer complaints to Ofcom about her being the victim of bullying and racism in the house.

Ofcom, the communications regulator, has said it is investigating allegations that Jack Tweedy – Jade Goody’s dullard boyfriend – called her a “f*****g paki”, and several housemates made fun of her accent, mannerisms and cooking. But for Shetty, the outcome makes no difference. She has already said that for many reasons, this is “the most mortifying experience of my life”. 

And indeed, being stuck in the increasingly slummy Big Brother house, unable to maintain her appearance, and being bullied by loud-mouthed Brits, is a far cry from her usual life. In India, she is treated with a reverence reserved for all major Bollywood stars, placed on a god-like pedestal for the masses to adore.

Being called a “dog” by Danielle Lloyd and asked if she lived in a shack by Jade’s mother, Jackiey, is at complete odds with her lifestyle back in Mumbai, where she lives on an entire floor of an opulent apartment building in Lokhandwala and is considered to be one of the most beautiful women in India. As for having to wash her own undies in the toilet, Shetty usually has an entourage including three servants, three chauffeurs, a make-up artist, a hairdresser and several bodyguards.

For viewers in Britain, those who choose to run the Celebrity Big Brother gauntlet deserve the humiliation – will we ever forget  George Galloway in a catsuit?– but it is unprecedented for a Bollywood star as big as Shetty to even be seen without her make-up – as she tearfully admitted to millions in the diary room. Indian stars are notorious for running late at press conferences because they are getting their hair and make-up done.

Shilpa Shetty's ex-boyfriend, Akshay Kumar

To put into context the recent cooking debacle – when Jo O’Meara, Goody and Lloyd attacked her food firstly for giving them the runs – it’s the equivalent of Nicole Kidman being lambasted by Chantelle for undercooking a chicken.

Shetty isn’t entirely blameless. Statements like, “I’m synonymous with glamour” haven’t won her any favours, but the Big Brother furore won’t be her first taste of controversy.  In 2003 her parents, Suranda and Surendra, were accused of hiring the Indian mafia to reclaim money owed to the actress. They deny the claims. And earlier this year she was summoned by a court in the southern Indian state Tamil Nadu for obscenity when a magazine printed pictures of her showing her navel.

The social bubble Shetty is used to inhabiting – where stars are encouraged to believe they are the centre of the universe – has been her world since 1993, when she made her first film, age 17, Baazigar. She won the Filmfare Award (the equivalent of the Baftas) for best newcomer and went on to star in 49 more films.

For each film, Shetty is paid £500,000 – and she appeared in six movies in 2002.

Apart from being a spokeswoman for ethical animal rights group PETA, she’s also done AIDS awareness work and is considered a spokesperson for Asia. On her visit to Pakistan in 2004, even a single quote made big news: “Karachi felt like home . . . I didn’t feel any hostility.”

According to reports, she has been paid £300,000 to appear on the show. Whether she thinks the fee is worth it remains to be seen, but in the meantime, her publicist Dale Bhagwagar is doing a stand-up job after Tweedy’s outburst, commenting: “Shilpa is God’s child. Jack is God’s child, Indians are God’s children and so are Pakistanis.”

Shilpa's CV:

Film tally: More than 50 films in the past 14 years

Last love: Actor Akshay Kumar  who cheated on her  in 2000

Aspires to: Star in a Hollywood film with Jackie Chan

Is worth: Approximately £15 million

TV: In 2004 she was a judge for Indian Idol, despite not being able to sing, or ever working in the music industry

Family: Starred in film Dus with her younger sister Shamita – a first for Bollywood. Mother is an ex-model

YOUR ISSUE:

Big Brother Shilpa will reportedly receive £300,000 for the show. Why should we feel sorry for her?

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