A long interview but well worth reading
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/23703.html
After the controversy over being subjected to racist comments by housemate Jade Goody on the Celebrity Big Brother show, Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty has found international recognition — The New York Times and several British tabloids front-paged her pictures and she attracts crowds even in the UK. On NDTV 24x7’s Walk the Talk, she spoke to The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta about how she kept her Indian-ness on the show, why she’s forgiven Goody, and how she’s handling all the new-found attention
Hello and welcome to Walk the Talk. I’m Shekhar Gupta, at Hyde Park in London, with this week’s guest — a celebrity to tens and millions of people, not just in India but all over Britain. It’s very difficult to keep crowds away from Shilpa Shetty now
Yes, it is a beautiful feeling that now I am recognised in different countries. To be recognised in your country is one thing. And not just by fellow Indians or Pakistanis. It is strange. It seemed weird, actually, the first day — people know me by my name, my surname. It is strange to hear your name from people you don’t even know!
Tell us about how this new celebrity-hood came, and how you are coping with it now! You have been a celebrity, but this is different...
I’ve been an actor for 14 years and got recognized by people. I’ve even done shows here and been recognised by people here. We always do shows abroad. I’ve seen and known crowds shouting out my name and all, but this is a new level!
Because there has never ever been an Indian who’s been mobbed like you have been mobbed here.
Yeah, that has never happened. And I take it as a huge compliment
And when did you realise it was this big!
After I got out of the house. I think it became so big because Big Brother is huge here. But it never got escalated to this level. It became so big because of the whole issue that it raked up. The issue of racism is, I guess, a hundred-fold more inflated than the Hindu-Muslim issue in our country. So, may be, if you had a Muslim inmate treated badly in the Big Boss house in India, it would have been bad, but it wouldn’t have raked the kind of chaos that it did all around the world. But, in this country it is so much the culture.
But I can tell you that in India we would have been more sensitive. We have all learnt from our movies that when a person from a majority deals with a person of the minority community, usually people tend to be even more respectful, address the other person as bhai... Maybe some of what happened to you here would not have happened to somebody from a minority in the Indian Big Brother.
Maybe not. But all are so hypocritical, and nobody would have imagined something like that would happen to me! I was prepared for, maybe, a culture shock... Yes, I knew that people in the House would not quite understand my language, in terms of my accent. But I did not think it would be more than that. And a lot of other things we had to make adjustments with. When it started I didn’t understand their language. I didn’t understand the tone in which they spoke, especially Jade. And you know we are Indian, we are brought up so differently. And every time I would say ‘please’, ‘pardon me’, ‘thank you’, or ‘sorry’, they thought “Ugh, she is so fake!” But that’s the way I am, and that’s the way all of us are. That’s how we are brought up in India.
You were being polite and nice when they thought you were fake. Like how?
I don’t know. Like Jade kept thinking that I was not genuine, because I would be polite all the time. I was just being myself. You know after a point they made me feel that I was “un-cool”, as if I was not with it because I was not burping. They used to have burping matches in the house. And I was like, “What’s happening!” And there was no beer in the house! We were all forced to be in that environment and we were forced to bond. Maybe in the outside world, if you don’t get along with someone, you don’t talk to the person.
When did it begin to hurt first?
It did not really hurt me in that sense. I think people were more hurt watching me there. And I think they were more hurt because I would be very stoic about it. I would not really say too much. So, I think that is one thing that hurt them.
I think it was a little bit of Gandhigiri there, was it?
I don’t know about Gandhigiri, I think I have in me to forgive and forget
So tell me when did you first think this was a rude thing!
It happened slowly and steadily. And you haven’t really seen the series, so I can’t explain it to you. And most of the people in India have not seen it. So people wouldn’t really understand the anonymity of it all because one has to watch the whole series to know that. We in India do not even understand the real meaning of racism! At least I have never ever experienced anything like that. In India you are never really treated with racial discrimination. It’s such a huge word! But here, a lot of people have gone through it! They have gone through a lot of racial bullying.
But can you recount it for me?
Shekhar, I guess it is common amongst women to get jealous and be insecure, and I knew that they were insecure with me! And Jamaine, my housemate who really bonded with me, said, “Don’t get down to their level, just be yourself and go with it.” And every step on the way I kept asking him if I was doing anything wrong. Because the reaction I kept getting from them was really strange. Actually, it started out really well, and then Jade entered three days later, and she was supposed to be the surprise element in the Big Brother house. And when she came in, I had no idea who she was. I was just told by my fellow housemates that Jade Goody is someone who is very impressive, and she was also on a previous Big Brother show. So that was all in my sub-conscious mind. And she was very nice with me in the beginning, and then suddenly, after her mother went out, she started getting really nasty with me, may be because she felt that I was taking over the kitchen. But I don’t know why she felt that way. In fact I was the only one who could cook. And I cooked out of choice, and also because I cared for other people. I just didn’t go and cook for myself, I did it for everybody. Because it is rude to just cook and eat on your own.
Did that lead to jealousy?
Yes, I think that is what led to jealousy. But I never really understood it. And I would have just let it be. But then, there was one row that actually blew it out of proportion. What she said was very un-called for!
What did she say, and how did it happen?
Well, it was over the most silly thing. For us, it may look really juvenile, but in that House it was our world, and we were made to do various tasks so that we could earn our food. And we had failed one task, which meant that we were living on two pounds a day and we had very little food to eat. And when you are hungry, you are made to do very stupid things. And we are all celebrities who live luxurious lives with all the comfort and then you come to this house and you are fighting for food. It was strange, because in adverse situations like that your true character comes out. And I think she was upset about one thing. And then one thing led to another. Then she got really nasty.
Recount the nasty conversation for me!
She said things like, “You are no princess, come down to earth.” She started screaming. She thought she was making great TV. She thought her fights with me would be interesting to watch. To have two women fight, but I wasn’t fighting back. And it really didn’t work in her favour.
In a way she made great TV, except that someone else became the star!
I don’t think she quite intended it that way. I was never really there to make great TV. I did it because it was a new challenge for me. I did it because it was a great opportunity, and it was serious money! It was a very lucrative offer for me! I am not apologetic about it because I got paid very well. I am in the business of entertainment. I don’t know why people say she wasn’t there to represent the country; she was there to make money! I was shocked, because that’s what hurts me more than anything else. It’s my business, yes, and I am there to make my money. But I am sorry, my honour and integrity is not up for sale! I have never made money at someone else’s cost! And I was very clear when I was going on Celebrity Big Brother that I will do this much, but I would not do that! There were points in my contract which said I wouldn’t wear a bikini, or I would not kiss anyone in the house, I would not do anything to bring down my name and self-respect, I would not do anything un-Indian. This was one of the clauses! Now if someone says she is not representing her country it hurts me. How can you take that away from me? I am Indian!
Was there a moment when you lost your cool?
Yeah, once when she spoke to me with a lot of disrespect. And she was very condescending as well. I never had anybody speak to me like that. I have been in the movie business for 14 years and I have always been pampered and taken care of. And people have always treated you with a lot of respect. But here, someone was just screaming at me for no rhyme or reason. And I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. It’s not that I couldn’t, but I wouldn’t. That’s not me!
And then, when did you realise it had become such a big thing? You got Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Anand Sharma, and Tony Blair so exercised!
All that I got to know once I came out of the house. The way it goes here — the moment you get out of the house, the first thing they tell you is what has been happening you were not even aware of. I was shown clippings of effigies being burnt in our country. And it just scared me! I had no clue then whatsoever! I didn’t know it had blown up to be something so big. And then I was made to meet a psychologist. He thought I was mentally scarred for life. It’s just such a dumb thing that before you go on to a show like this, they make you meet a psychologist, ask you questions even before you go into the house. Like how you are going to deal with situations. And in India if you visit a shrink, there sure has to be something wrong with you! And I was averse to the whole idea! And when he met me even before going to the house, he said, “You really don’t need me! You look just fine!” But, when I got out, he was really weary, because he must have been aware of the goings on while I was in the House. And he showed me the various paper cuttings from all over the world. When he showed me I was on the cover of New York Times, that I was in the headlines in this country for 15 days, it just scared me! And that’s when it started sinking into me slowly and steadily. He told me that Jade had death threats and that they’ve been pelting stones at her house. It just saddened me on one level!
Are you angry with her?
Not at all! I think she has already been through more than her share of punishment. If you go and see the way people react today, it is sad because she used to be a huge celebrity here. And then her perfumes were taken off the shelves, and she fears for her life, her children. It’s not worth it, it’s just a show!
What would you say to her now? You’ll forgive her, love her?
I’ve already forgiven her. I have moved on.
The Government of India wants her to come to India and see things for herself!
Does the Government of India really want that? Well, I’ll be more than happy if she comes to India, and I would invite her to my place. But I am not a PR tool for anybody. If you show interest in my country for the right reasons, I will do it. I really have nothing against her, but what she did was wrong.
Was it racist?
No, not according to me! Racist for me would be someone who would say things with real intent because of your colour. And I don’t really think Jade did that.
Were you told things that were said to you because you were Indian? You know a lot of stuff that people got agitated about was said behind my back. I was never told those things directly.
You only heard about that once you came out?
Once I came out of the house, on the second day, I was played a few of those clippings. But I guess it just stemmed out of jealousy and a lot of insecurity. And I guess they were really stupid! They were really not an intelligent lot! Not that I am, but it’s just that they are so ignorant. What can I possibly say to a girl who doesn’t know the meaning of ‘attire’? But she has been through a very hard life. She has lived in foster homes. Her mother suddenly turned lesbian one fine day. She has really not had it very easy! May be all this has made her into the person she is today. And I really don’t hold it against her.
And what was it like to meet Tony Blair?
It was an absolute pleasure. I thanked him, and he had a lot of questions to answer that I heard when I was in the House. He was very nice and polite and told me that he saw one of my movies.
If you were to do a celebrity Big Brother in India, what would be the cast?
I would never ever do that now. No reality TV for me!
What’s your plan now? You say you are homesick, but when are you coming back?
I am coming back soon. I have to finish Metro, that’s my next movie, a UTV production directed by Anurag Basu. It was actually because of them that I could take up the Big Brother offer. They had to delay the film for some time. But I guess this has all worked out in their favour, because now suddenly they are going to do a premiere here, and that is going to work now! And anything that works for the film works for me.
Life changed entirely, isn’t it?
Life has changed a complete 360 degrees. I am very grateful to God actually. I always knew that I was God’s special child. When I came to India, the funniest thing that I saw was a photo of me at Siddhivinayak (temple), and it read “Here Shilpa with Bigger Brother.” There is only God who can make or break you, and I believe that! The reason behind my making has been God! It was not me, it was not Jade, it was just divine intervention!
Gandhigiri, or God or Goody, I think everything has come together to make this possible. I hope you go from strength to strength and there is no looking back. It was so wonderful to have you on Walk the Talk.