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Shilpa in talks over Lloyd Webber musical
By Alexa Baracaia, Evening Standard 30.01.07
"Deeply hurt": Shilpa Shetty branded her Big Brother tormentors as jealous and stupid
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Shilpa Shetty could be set to star in a major West End revival of Bombay Dreams.
Musicals impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber has approached the Celebrity Big Brother winner about a lead role in his Bollywood-style show.
He is also said to be considering her for a TV project, following the success of his talent-search programme How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
Bombay Dreams, which has enjoyed successful runs in London and New York, is due to be revamped and restaged. A source close to Lloyd Webber today said: "Shilpa would be a great signing."
Shetty's spokesman Max Clifford today confirmed Lloyd Webber had been in touch directly to discuss an offer. "He is very keen to discuss her," he said.
Mr Clifford said Shetty, 31, would be considering a range of deals when they meet next week, and added that theatre was a key interest for the Indian film star. "She's had 15 years of Bollywood now and it would be tremendous for her as an actress to look for new challenges," he said.
Other deals on the table include commercials for beauty products and clothing, two offers to pen her autobiography, and various film and TV projects.
Today Shetty spoke of her shock after seeing footage of the bullying against her for the first time.
She said she had been deeply hurt, adding: "I can understand why people complained so much. It isn't just one or two attacks - it's incessant."
But she also asked the public to forgive Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd, whose behaviour she branded "jealous" and "stupid" - but not racist, as some had alleged.
She had a message of support for Goody - who has been admitted to the Priory Centre after collapsing with "stress" and "depression".
Speaking to the Standard, she said: "I am really sorry to hear that and I hope they can help her and that she will be feeling a lot better soon. I don't wish her anything but good fortune."
She plans to meet up with Lloyd, who she described as vulnerable and young, but not racist.
At Lloyd's comment that "she can't even speak English properly", Shetty told the Mirror: "I speak 10 languages and I think my English is fantastic."
She added: "It was not a battle between brown and white. It was a battle between right and wrong. And right won ... It wasn't contrived to be racist."
Meanwhile the Duchess of York weighed into the debate today. She phoned GMTV this morning after seeing O'Meara interviewed on the show - saying she felt sympathy for the former S Club star.
Presenter Fiona Phillips told viewers: "Sarah the Duchess is watching this morning.
"She is very upset by the Jo interview. She says she knows what it is like to be vilified and misrepresented and has a lot of sympathy for Jo."
O'Meara said her life was in ruins after she was portrayed as a racist bully, and claimed she had been unable to return to her Essex home because she had received death threats.
She told GMTV her behaviour on the show was "taken out of context" and added: "I don't think I bullied Shilpa, I really don't."
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Reader views (1)
I feel so sorry for Jo O'Meara she looked very depressed when she was in the house.
I read in the Irish paper this evening that Jermaine Jackson has offered Jo a chance to re-launch her singing career with one of his songs he can see a lot of talent in her. What a great guy.
Good luck Jo.
- Maura, Essex
