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Shilpa calls on Blair in Parliament

— Photo: AFP

CYNOSURE OF ALL EYES: Shilpa Shetty (centre) addresses a press conference outside the Parliamentary office in Westminster, London on Wednesday.

LONDON: Actor Shilpa Shetty, winner of the "Celebrity Big Brother" show, was on Wednesday the cynosure of all eyes at the House of Commons where she met British Prime Minister Tony Blair and attended a luncheon with leading MPs.

During the seven-minute meeting with Mr. Blair, Shilpa thanked him for his stand against racism, of which she was allegedly a victim in the reality TV show.

Mr. Blair told Shilpa that he was sorry for what happened in the show.

The luncheon, organised by Labour MP Keith Vaz, also non-Resident Indian leader and a former Minister, was attended by several MPs, including Peter Hain, Secretary of State of Northern Ireland. Shilpa also witnessed the Prime Minister's question hour.

Asked about her impression of the question hour, she told mediapersons that it was more interesting than what she envisaged.

Great honour

"It feels great, such an honour. This was what we always saw on the postcards. It's so great just to be here," she said in front of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster. "There can't be a bigger honour, so much respect to be bestowed upon me."

Asked whether she got an offer to act with British actor Huge Grant, she said it was only a rumour. She had received several offers but had not reached any agreement on them.

Asked about her future plans, the 31-year-old actor said she could not leave India and Bollywood. Shilpa, who was accompanied by her mother Sunanda and Mr. Vaz, said she was keen to return to India at the earliest.

To help AIDS victims

To another question, she said she would contribute part of the money she received for appearing in the "Celebrity Big Brother" show to a foundation she had set up for helping AIDS victims in India.

"AIDS is a major disease and India has the second highest number of victims. I would like to create awareness of the plight of AIDS victims, not only in India but all over the world."

Asked about racism, Shilpa said her "tormentors" in the Big Brother house, Jade Goody and others, were not racists though she was a victim of bullying. "I believe in Gandhian philosophy and we in India are quite tolerant."

Later, Shilpa left for Leicester, Mr. Vaz's constituency, to attend a series of functions.

— PTI

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