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 Shilpa
Shetty has forgiven Jade Goody, her housemate in the British TV reality
show "Celebrity Big Brother", for her offensive behaviour but hasn't
yet gotten over author and scriptwriter Farrukh Dhondy's stinging
criticism.
The
London-based Dhondy termed the remarks against Shetty, which triggered
a debate on racism in Britain, as unreal and untrue. He labelled the
whole episode as a "drama and gimmick" to boost the show's ratings.
"I've
forgiven Jade. Anyone who knows me knows I forgive and forget easily.
Farrukh Dhondy has made a statement that I'm a fake. How dare he? How
dare he take away from the fact that I'm representing my country in
Britain? A lot of Indians in Britain are very irked by his criticism of
me," Shilpa told IANS in an interview.
The actress, who went
on to win the show, accepts that she changed her stance on her
housemates' racist behaviour because she didn't want to hurt the
sentiments of the viewers.
"You know, if you saw the footage
I clearly said, 'It was racist'. But then Big Brother asked me if Jade
Goody's attitude towards me was racist. That's when I realised the
gravity of the situation.
"I realised the entire Asian
community would be hurt if I used that word. And I had no idea my words
were creating a furore across the world. So, I revised my earlier
opinion."
Shilpa says her entire experience has made her more socially and politically conscious.
Excerpts:
Q: How are you holding up as India's new representative abroad?
A:
I'm doing okay. I met Prime Minister Tony Blair. I went there to thank
him on my country's behalf. It was an embarrassing situation for him.
He had to answer questions on racism.
Q: Was chicken curry served?
A:
Oh yeah! 'Chicken Curry Rules' has become a slogan in Britain... I got
to know that old people from the British Asian community, who never
watched "Big Brother", started watching the show to see me.... Would
you believe, I haven't seen the entire series of "Big Brother".
Q: Do you really believe you were a victim of racism in there?
A:
Initially, it was hard for me to tell. In India none of us goes through
racist behaviour. All of us are Indian. Once I was in the house lots of
things were happening. People who followed the whole series were irked
by what they saw. These are British Asians who have been subjected to
this kind of discrimination for years and this was the first time they
saw someone they knew and liked standing up against the bullying and
racial discrimination they experienced in everyday life. For me, to be
treated like that, was very painful to see.
When I made a
statement from in there saying, 'Is this the new Britain' the Brits
didn't want Britain to be epitomised by those three girls in there (who
bullied me).
Q: Do you feel you were racially discriminated against?
A:
You know, if you saw the footage I clearly said, "It was racist". I
never did anything in the house to hurt them, or to make them feel I
was unfriendly. They had this attitude towards me, and I didn't know
where it was coming from. This kind of attitude happens among women who
are insecure or jealous. But I was never subjected to this kind of a
thing.
Q: Was it a girlie thing carried too far?
A:
There was groupism and a divide. So coming back to your question about
whether the situation in there was racist, I said it was. I don't like
to hold grudges. When I went to the dining room, 'Big Brother' asked me
if Jade Goody's attitude towards me was racist. That's when I realised
the gravity of the situation.
I realised the entire Asian
community would be hurt if I used that word. And I had no idea my words
were creating a furore across the world. So, I revised my earlier
opinion, and told all the Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, who
were listening, that yes it was mean, rude, obnoxious and arrogant
behaviour. But it wasn't racist behaviour.
Q: Have you forgiven Jade?
A:
Jade did apologise. And I've forgiven her. Anyone, who knows me, knows
I forgive and forget easily. Farrukh Dhondy has made a statement that
I'm a fake. How dare he? How dare he take away from the fact that I'm
representing my country in Britain. A lot of Indians in Britain are
very irked by his criticism of me.
Q: So, would you invite Jade for your wedding whenever it happens?
A:(Laughs)
Jade is just an acquaintance, someone I met as part of my experience at
"Big Brother". She's neither a friend nor an enemy. We were forced to
know one another, and I've moved on.
I believe her house has
been stoned. She has received death threats. During a police
investigation, I was told Jade and the others who behaved badly with me
have been treated like criminal offenders. Do I feel sorry for Jade? Of
course! I wouldn't wish this on anyone. She's a mother of two. I don't
wish bad for anyone. And at the end of the day this was just a game
show.
Q: Have you become more socially and politically conscious?
A:
Definitely. When I went to Leicester, I couldn't get out of the car. It
wasn't mock-hysteria. There was a feeling of pride in every Indian
there. It made me cry.
But, believe me I wanted to speak to
the Indian press at the first given opportunity. At the House of
Commons I walked across to the Indian press corps, though the British
press resented it. But they had me for a week-and-half. My own country
and cinema will always mean more to me. Yes, I feel I haven't really
got my due as an actress in Hindi cinema.
Q: So, why don't you stand for the elections as an Indian MP in Britain?
A: No way! You know I'm totally apolitical.
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service
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