Shilpa Shetty saga continues ........

What a career Shilpa Shetty had; from cheated love character of Baazigar to doctorate degree from Leeds University. I appreciate her for achieving that, carefully orchestrated by her mother, the things which all parent would love to do if they can. Well, Shilpa and her mother used the newly achieved fame to the fullest extent and painted Dr. Shilpa Shetty as ambassador for all South Asian community, basically people from India and Pakistan, around the World (well, if I could put that way) including the largest population in Britain. Top of that they have appointed media publicity Guru Max Clifford from London to bag western media programme opportunities in Europe and US which would fetch large fortune. I’m sure she is riding a high horse of achievement and enjoying the breeze of success at the moment. Obviously it is an evidently envious career any second grade actress of Bollywood would like to have at any point of time in life. I think, she as a business woman got an opportunity to make lots of fortune and she grabbed it at right moment and in right way, for which I’m happy for her and we all should be with lots of appreciation.

Shilpa Shetty had done a wonderful job in Big Brother reality show to hide her emotion when few members of the house had erupted on her which was more a cultural thing than racist. I would think, racism was either to very less extent or not at all there in the slur she had received in the house. I also thought Shilpa didn’t deserve that kind of treatment from fellow house mates while she has been very good to everyone in the house with more tolerance displayed in her attitude. Of course it was part of character displayed by most of the Indians to ignore or being non-confrontational which helped her a lot in this case. She was mentioning in the Big Brother house that she is in front of the camera, so I think, she was quite conscious of the image she was showing public which means she was still acting in that house while others trying to win the contest by being themselves.

I was not surprised when she won Big Brother contest and there were too many things involved. (1) The problems faced by Shilpa had taken in the context of racism by large South Asian community in Britain and complaints had been lodged on Big Brother show organizers based on the Human Rights. I was not surprised again as large part of the South Asian community face at some point of time an attitude of ignorance or an attitude of separation from British. Although large proportion of British are tolerant to have a mixed culture, British, well at least from my point of view, have a large reservation and skepticism towards other culture and do not like changes in society which I call “conservatism”; shows proud of being British, carrying on the British culture and preserve the British social ways. Obviously that create some kind of protection wall in society separating the main British from migrants which is well hidden in business and work. It is bit too difficult to predict what British would like to see the future society as; but I can see the social changes happening before even they start taking a particular stand on it and it will happen again and again around the world as there are no set rules for metamorphosis of society. As general rule of thumb immigration happens towards the financial centers i.e. where there is work and more money. So the question of social division takes more prominence in those regions (2) British had seen history of racist Nazi violence resulted in World War 2 in which it had suffered a lot (this comment is from the European point of view and of course it changes when we think from the Indian point of view where British were acting Imperialist at the same time). And the opposition they had put up for Nazi agenda racial inequality made them to take a same stand in the case of “portrayed” racial attack on Shilpa. (3) Political leaders took a stand in favor of Shilpa for the same reason as former, but it gave a very good publicity due to the media tracking them at all points (4) Sympathy of public on Shilpa who seem to have battered for no important reason was high and good enough consideration as well (5) Shilpa played her card right by saying “If this is what current British society is, then I’m too afraid and fearful” which took lot of attention of the public who are against the usual racism. (6) Obviously, last but not least, beautiful Bollywood item girl has put her cast on many youngsters who opted to vote for her.

At the time we shower all that name, fame and fortune for Shilpa, I don’t quite agree with awarding her doctorate in any case. To be honest with you, I’m against the award for any young Bollywood film actors / actresses as their achievement in the field of cinema is not outstanding. It is obviously shameful for other worth doctorate awardees who has put in tremendous effort and deserved it throughout. My thoughts are definitely bitter against current Bollywood cinema actors / actresses / directors / story writers etc who really do very little for betterment of society in terms not really trying to show the issues of society in the more knowledgeable and in humorous way. All Bollywood cinema is about the glorifying the evil and a show of superman hero who can do and know all; along with women being used as sex symbols which has deteriorated the quality of cinemas as well as sending the wrong message to the society. Bollywood, well other than very few, isn’t making any effort to bring the social issues, family issues, national issues etc in humorous way to create a memorable and high impact subject. To me, Bollywood has lost the path and it is trying to put new wine in old bottle (If you are not a wine taster, more older the wine better is the taste) and is effecting the young individuals to follow wrong path by showing something which is very far from reality. I do not think, Shilpa has achieved anything yet in cinema; as I think, she has been reduced from acting icon of Bollywood to item girl dancing with very less clothes before getting the Big Brother opportunity. The handful of cinemas she has acted on, as she admits in Big Brother prize ceremony, hasn’t got her any awards which means she hasn’t been noted by any selectors in any section of cinema for better work. Now suddenly a university thinks she has achieved a great deal knowledge and has done considerable service to the cinema field and award her a degree; which not only dent the credibility of that university; it will do a great harm to the public not to go on the quest of doctorate.

Well, end of the day, she is Dr. Shilpa Shetty now, I think she will have to put herself in the level of the doctorate to honor the qualification given to her. She must start addressing issues like race relation between South Asian community and European community; also helping the society back in Mumbai where she has come from. I’m sure there will be many organization who would like to help her to extend her social service rather taking input from me ;-). But, I would be very disappointed if she continue act as a real business woman for her own benefits and go on enjoying the name, fame and fortune she has attained and she would be back in to the Bollywood item number in no time with failure in achieving the expectations of people to whom she claim as ambassador in the western society and back in home. I hope she has the heart and wit to win over public by honoring the doctorate which was achieved without any significant effort. Can she win the public over outside the Big Brother house?