Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has been granted a work permit by the British government that would enable her to make money from lucrative personal appearances and media interviews in the country.
A covering letter for the permit application was written by NRI leader and former minister for foreign and commonwealth Keith Vaz who raised the issue of the alleged racist bullying endured by the actress on British reality show ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in the House of Commons.
“Having originally raised the racism issue in Parliament and having met her, I was delighted to support her application to stay longer in the UK,” Vaz told PTI from London today.
“Her fans in the UK, particularly in Leicester, wanted her to stay longer in the UK. I am disappointed she has gone back to Mumbai as she was keen to be with her family. I hope she comes back soon.”
Vaz said he wanted Shilpa, who also won the TV reality show, to stay on in the UK to see the result of the investigation by watchdog Ofcom into the racism row.
“There were 40,000 complaints against the racist bullying she faced and the investigation is still on.” Vaz said: “I write hundreds of letters to help people, particularly from India and Asia. I have also taken up the case of highly skilled migrants from India who are forced to go back because of changes effected in the immigration law.”
Farhath Hussain, Shilpa Shetty’s agent said the work permit was done in the normal course. “A work permit normally takes two days. This one took two days,” he said.
Flies to India
Shilpa Shetty, who became a household name in Britain after winning a controversial reality television programme last month, flew home to India.
Shetty, who grabbed the prize January 28 after being subjected to alleged racist bullying during the show, visited the crowded Siddhivinayak temple on arrival in Mumbai from London.
Shetty was not immediately available for comment.
The 31-year-old actress was voted the winner of the Big Brother show by viewers. Critics said the programme was marred by bullying by three of her co-participants.
Among the controversial comments made against her, Shetty was called a “dog”, asked whether she lived in a shack and told to clean toilets with her teeth.
Shetty’s torment churned up a diplomatic incident, with Indian ministers vowing “appropriate action” and British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his finance minister Gordon Brown being forced to speak out on the issue.
Television viewers made more than 40,000 complaints, while in India irked demonstrators torched effigies of her tormentors.
|
