Shilpa alleges celebrity harassment in India

Celebrity harassment in India has touched an all time high, says Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who was stopped at the airport here by immigration officers twice recently.

"It was so bizarre," she said, referring to her brief detention while going to and returning from the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards function this month in Britain.

"It would've been perfectly understandable to see the immigration officers doing their jobs well. I'd be the last person to come in the way of the authorities doing their duties. We patiently showed the clearance papers while leaving. And still we were questioned when I returned!

"How does it feel to be treated so suspiciously in your home after being treated like a queen at an event in a foreign country? I guess I am no stranger to being given a raw deal at home. Still it hurts."

Shilpa feels that she is being constantly targeted in India. "What can I do? Whether it's an innocuous costume or an innocent kiss, I'm being hauled up all the time.

"Please arrest me and jail me if you genuinely believe I'm guilty of any offence. But I can't be walking out of the country each time with a piece of paper in my hands to prove I'm as free to travel as thousands of others."

Shetty also feels that Bollywood has never given her credit for her acting skills.

In fact when she was honoured at IIFA with a special award for her achievements, the Celebrity Big Brother winner said it was the first award she had ever received.

"It is true! So many of my supposedly good performances like 'Dhadkan' and 'Phir Milenge' got no recognition. But I'm not complaining. Today I'm making up for lost time."

Indo-Asian News Service