Shetty Shilpa

What's next for Bollywood beauty Shilpa?

At the end of the show's run, Shilpa was crowned the winner, ensuring everyone in the UK – and even abroad – knew her name.
What brought her to the public's attention wasn't so much her exotic beauty or her personality.
Rather, it was the bullying (with undertones of racism) that went on between some of the housemates, attracting huge numbers of complaints and causing controversy around the world.

Shilpa Shetty

"The issue of racial discrimination – I'm happy I started it. I was eager to tackle the issue and it's given people the confidence and courage to tackle life with more gumption," says Shilpa.
"I've had a lot of Asian people tell me they now have the guts to stand up for themselves, so it's been a good experience.
"I'm just happy the show helped me come into my own, and I'm happy the show addressed an issue of global proportions that should have been addressed before."
Viewers couldn't tear themselves away from the cruel antics of Jade Goody, model Danielle Lloyd, and ex-S Club 7's Jo O'Meara, who imitated Shilpa's accent and called her Shilpa Poppadom.
But instead of losing her temper and retaliating, Shilpa consistently tried to rise above their antics.
"It's not that I don't get upset, and you saw on the show that I did," the 32-year-old explains. "But I think getting upset and handling things are very different. The Asian value system of giving people respect is of paramount importance. I think that was the reason for the way I dealt with things."
So has Shilpa really forgiven her tormentors?
"Oh yes, a long time ago," she says. "I move on in life. I don't hold grudges."
The end of Celebrity Big Brother saw the demise of Jade's career, Jo slipping into depression and Danielle losing her footballer boyfriend Teddy Sheringham as well as some high-profile modelling contracts.
Meanwhile, Shilpa's career is on the rise. Her fanbase has expanded and she was honoured for her conduct in the reality TV show at the International Indian Film Academy Awards.