Click to play videoNew Delhi: Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty has emerged as the big winner in the much-talked about Channel 4 reality show Celebrity Big Brother.
Shilpa - who shot into international limelight after being racially 'victimised' on Prime Time television - won the show with an overwhelming 63 per cent of public votes going in her favour.
Shilpa won the public's support after fellow contestants - British actor Jade Goody and model Danielle Lloyd - and hurled racially tinged insults at her in an episode that led anti-racism petitioners worldwide to file a record 40,000 complaints to the British media regulator Ofcom.
The A-list Bollywood actor now takes home a prize money of £100,000 (approx Rs 80 lakh) apart from big-ticket endorsements, jewellery and a chance to anchor a cricket show among others.
She emerged from the Big Brother with her characteristic goofy smile and good humour intact.
"Things happen and people make mistakes and we are all human beings and we are all fallible," an ecstatic Shilpa was quoted as saying emerging victorious from the Big Brother house.
''It's truly been a roller coaster ride. The highs, the lows, each one has taught me so much," she said.
Now with famous UK PR guru Max Clifford by her side, Shilpa is sure to cash in on the Big Brother series long after it's over
"It's been a wonderful showcase, has done India proud and has lots of opportunities now," said Clifford.
The 31-year-old Bollywood actor - whose victory will largely be seen as a triumph for racial equality in Britain and India - beat 13 other contestants hands down, including those who were accused of tormenting her.
The final day began well with actor Jack Tweed and model Danielle Lloyd evicted at the sixth and the fifth positions respectively.
Four more nominations including ex-Steps singer Ian 'H' Watkins followed.
Dirk Benedict became the second runner up and 52-year-old Jermaine Jackson was close on Shilpa’s heels as the first runner up.
Shilpa's close friend and 'her rock' in times of need, Jermaine was the first to enter the show and the last to leave with just 37 per cent of the votes in the final round.
SHILPASPEAK | ||
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| I had no idea of what was going on outside. | We didn't even have a real lawn inside, it was all plastic grass. | UK helped me make India proud. Chicken curry rules! |
Having hit the jackpot in the early hours of Monday (IST), the actor has come a along way, and things are only likely to get bigger and better for her.
Apart from the prize money, the other goodies that await the actor are:
- A Hollywood film by Fox pictures.
- A book deal, endorsements for clothes, cosmetics and jewellery.
- A television documentary.
- Hosting a cricket reality show and an awards ceremony.
- £100,000 for an exclusive interview to the tabloid The Sun.
All this is besides the £350,000 (approx Rs 3.5 crore) that she has been paid to participate in the show.
A tough road to victory
Shilpa - an A-list Indian star - was called a "dog" on the reality show and her housemates refused to learn her name, referring to her as "the Indian" and "Poppadom".
Danielle even went to the extend of saying that Shilpa "should f*** off home. She can't even speak English."
However, Danielle, who got evicted earlier on Sunday evening from the television set, said: "I feel terrible."
"I never thought we were being racist at all," she was quoted as saying.
Internet chatrooms have been abuzz with debate about whether what was said constituted racism and to what extent Goody and her allies reflected prejudices in society at large.
In a sign of the public outrage, Danielle and O'Meara - who was evicted from the show on Friday night - were both met with jeers and boos by crowds waiting outside, while Shetty emerged to cheers, screams and a hail of fireworks.
"Thank you," the actress, dressed in a flowing red-coloured shirt and jeans, shouted as she waved to her fans.
(With Akanksha Banerji and Shalini Siromani)
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