Shilpa Shetty is observing a `mauna vrat`

New Delhi: Shilpa Shetty is observing a `mauna vrat` (vow of silence) as part of a wellness course that she is pursuing in Oneness University on the outskirts of Chennai and says it helped her to connect with herself."I`ve taken out some `me` time. I have been so busy with people, things and attaining my goals that I had forgotten about myself.This place has helped me get in touch with myself. You must be intrigued how... well right now am doing a mauna, that is, where i am not allowed to talk to anyone, so practicing that, it`s difficult but enjoying it," Shilpa posted on www.shilpashettylive.com/blog.

"Not allowed to take any calls... could only check my emails," she added.

The 34-year-old actress, who is a fitness and spirituality freak, says she seeks solace there in the company of her gurus -- Amma and Bhagvan. "I follow their advice blindly, and it`s made a huge difference in my life, work and relationships," she said.

Shilpa has gone there for a special course to rejuvenate herself after a "hectic six months".

"This silence is so rare to find in our fast paced lives. It just comforts. There are no luxuries and that makes you value everything that you have. It`s also a cleansing process, which I feel we all need from time to time. The beauty is that the process is a spiritual journey without preaching.

"I would prescribe this place for anyone who needs a break and a different and positive way to living life," she said.

Now showing, the Return of Shilpa's Poppadoms

ore than two years after a 'poppadom' jibe against her caused global outrage, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has announced plans to “dish out the poppadoms” to Britons.

Poppadoms - as the Indian snack papad is called in Britain - will be an important part of Shilpa's Gourmet Creations, a range of low-fat readymeals, chutneys and pickles that will be sold in British supermarkets from 2010.

The irony isn't lost on Shilpa, who was called 'Shilpa Poppadom' by the late British celebrity Jade Goody in a reality television programme in January 2007, causing outrage in India and elsewhere.

“We're dishing out poppadoms… they go really well with the curry,” Shilpa told Independent Television News (ITN).

“There was this whole connection with 'Shilpa Poppadum'… so brought back some weird memories, but we just wanted to tell people we have a good sense of humour,” she added.

Jade, who died earlier this year of cervical cancer, denied she was being racist in using the name for Shilpa in a celebrity version of Big Brother, a show where 'inmates' live together in front of television cameras.

However, Culture Minister Tessa Jowell slammed the show as “racism being presented as entertainment”.

Shetty, who along with her fiancé, entrepreneur Raj Kundra, picked up a 33 percent stake in the V8 Gourmet Group for a reported six million pounds, said last week she will keep the new range healthy.

“There is this preconceived notion that Indian food isn't very healthy. We're making sure it will be under 10 percent fat. So it's going to be a healthy choice,” she said.

The curries, which Shilpa will develop along with master chef Andy Verma, will be “less acidic and less spicy, catering to the taste buds here and keeping it authentic Indian.”

Speaking at a press conference, Shilpa quoted from her own comments made when she was voted the winner of the 2007 Celebrity Big Brother: “As I said, Chicken curry rules.”

Shilpa Shetty: Dad is getting his passport for Raj's birthday, not my wedding

passport from Surat (where the document is kept because of a pending court case) so that he can be in London for his daughter's wedding has Shilpa in splits.

"The passport is certainly not meant for my wedding, please! It's not happening in October, November, December or any of the dates that have been fixed for my wedding in the media. Raj and I will announce the date from the rooftops and invite the entire press corps to be part of the baraati when it happens. In the meanwhile, please leave my father alone."

Papa Shetty's passport needed retrieval, not for Shilpa's wedding but for another family gathering altogether. "It's Raj Kundra's birthday on September 9. Our entire collective family will be bringing in the occasion at the Maldives. That's what my dad needed his passport for."

On a more sober note, Shilpa says, "We all respect the judiciary. But it's very humiliating for any daughter to have her father rushing to another town for his passport. It's even more humiliating to have erroneous media reports being put out about one's father. He had applied for his passport a few months ago."

As for the wedding, "There's no reason on earth why Raj I wouldn't want to get married at the earliest. At the moment we've our hands full with many new exciting ventures. We need get the space in our lives to plan and enjoy this wonderful event. Haath peele karne ke liye haath khali to hone chahiye."

Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama

I'm not getting married this year: Shilpa Shetty

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is upset over news that she is set to tie the knot with London-based businessman Raj Kundra by the year end. She clarifies that she isn't getting married this year.

"I've said before, I will make an official announcement the day my parents decide on my marriage date and I promise the press will have at least a month to celebrate the announcement. So to set the record straight, no I'm not getting married this year. Yes, I am looking at next year, but date not decided," said Shilpa posted on her blog www.shilpashettylive.com/blog/.

A British newspaper reported Thursday that the actress would be getting married between September and December in Britain after her father, Surendra Shetty, wrote so in an application to an Indian court.

But Shilpa has slammed the news. "I am sick and tired of people calling me to clarify after they've put it as breaking news on some channels and wasted reams of paper on concocted news articles," she said.

Shilpa is also upset over the leakage of the details her father gave to the court to acquire his passport. "My poor dad is already having a tough time every time he has to travel abroad and has to apply for his passport, and as alway it's harrowing enough for him to go back and forth every time for his passport...," she said.

Surendra Shetty's passport was reportedly confiscated after he was charged with threatening a business associate he claimed owed money to his daughter. Since then, he and his wife Sunanda have only been able to travel overseas with the court's permission, which is why he applied for the passport on the alleged pretext of Shilpa's wedding.

"My dad's 67 and ageing, please let the poor man live in peace and dignity, it's annoying. I request the press to report responsibly and not make any baseless assumptions," stated Shipa.

Shilpa does the honours!

Well, well, well ... there was wellness in the air as the swish set sauntered into this new space on Sunday evening with happy hosts Shilpa Shetty and Kiran Bawa at the entrance meeting and greeting each and every guest.
And they were more than overjoyed when Rekha stepped in – yes, the enigmatic lady was there to do the inaugural honours of Iosis Medispa’s flagship outlet in Khar that was far from the madding crowd.

Actually, there was a madding crowd out there what with the presence of Bollywood, corporate bigwigs, television personalities, fashion designers and assorted others. Making heads turn was Sushmita Sen, looking slim and trim.

The champagne was flowing and so, too, the hors d’oeuvres. In fact, the party continued there as guests ate and drank to their heart’s content. And who was there at this stylish and healthy do?

Koel Purie with her firangi hubby, Devita Saraf, Leena Mogre with hubby Nikhil, Queenie and daughter Tiara, Vikram Bawa, Ashmit Patel, Gayatri Patel, Farah Khan, Ameet Gaurr, Ekta Kapoor, Rohit Roy in his famous black jacket, Arjun Punjj, Manasi Scott, Kaushika and Kamlesh Hemdev, Kishwer Merchant and Poonam Sinha... you get the drift. And the talk was on the new India that is awakening to health and wellness.

Shilpa Shetty: Raj is meant to be in my life

Bollywood actress and Big Brother star Shilpa Shetty shed some light on her love life when she told BBC Asian Network breakfast host Adil Ray that she believed in marriage in a recent lighthearted interview.

Presenter Adil Ray left the Bollywood star speechless as he tried his luck wooing her using ex Big Brother contestant Sree's infamous words of wisdom.

The unsuspecting Bollywood actress set the marriage rumour mill working as she answered all of Adil's questions and gave a rare insight into her love life. Shetty explained how she believed in the institution of marriage and how her finance Raj was 'meant to be in her life'.

Adil continued his jibe using classic Sree lines such as 'you do come in my dreams...your inner beauty is platinum...you can slap me if I'm saying something wrong...even your laugh makes me sunshine'. Shilpa, unaware of the wind up, was taken aback replying 'Are you flirting me with on radio!'