Shilpa Shetty is observing a `mauna vrat`

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.

Shilpa Shetty offers prayers to Lord Ganesha

Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty offered prayers to Lord Ganesha at a makeshift temple here.

Shetty`s beau Raj Kundra, the London-based Indian millionaire, accompanied her.

Responding to the rumours that she will be marrying Kundra later this autumn, she said in a lighter vein that every one would be invited in advance.

"The day I get married I`ll send invitations to all of you (the media persons) and invite you. I will give you a months notice," she said.

The couple formed a successful business partnership, which includes a 10 million pounds stake in the Rajasthan Royals Twenty20 cricket team and a recently acquired food company.

The 34-year-old actress had become a household name in the United Kingdom after she won the ``Celebrity Big Brother`` in 2007.

The show sparked a huge outcry in Britain and India after housemates made racist comments against her, forcing Channel 4 to apologize.

Soon after her win she had got engaged to the jewellery tycoon.

Shilpa`s father gets his passport back

A local court here today ordered to hand over passport to Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty`s father Surender Shetty, an accused in a 2003 extortion case, for four months.

Shetty has appealed court to release his passport, which is in court`s custody, as he needed to travel abroad for his daughter`s marriage and for some business trips.

Sessions judge VR Vyas ordered to hand over passport to Shetty on a personal bond of Rs 2.5 lakh and asked him to submit it back to the court on January 1, 2010.

A Surat based businessman, Shivnarayan Agarwal had filed a case of extortion against Shetty and his wife Sunanda after he allegedly received threats from underworld don Fazl-Ur-Rehman and his aides asking him to pay the money he owed to Shilpa of an advertisement contract.

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," 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 race row was nail in coffin for `BB`

`Big Brother`, the British reality TV show which turned Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty into an internationally recognised face has been scrapped, with reports suggesting that the racism row involving Jade Goody and Shetty proved the death knell for the programme.Channel 4 decided to pull the plug on the show after it managed an average of just two million viewers in it`s tenth year, which is a massive drop from the 10 million who

tuned in during the `Celebrity` edition starring Shetty two years ago, reported Daily Mail.

An announcement that the programme, which first aired in 2000, will be axed after next year is reportedly due from Channel 4 as early as this Friday.

Big Brother made stars of former contestants, including Shetty who went on to be granted a meeting with the Queen, but in more recent years former contestants quickly faded from public view and the programme became mired in controversy.

It has never fully recovered from the fiasco of the `Celebrity Big Brother` race row over the treatment of the Indian actress who was taunted as `Shilpa Poppadom` by fellow

house mates Jade Goody and Danielle Lloyd.

The broadcaster was forced to air a humiliating apology after the show sparked 55,000 complaints and derailed Gordon Brown`s visit to India, said the newspaper.

"The reality is people are bored with it. Even at Channel 4 the vibe among staff is that if you like Big Brother you`re not cool. If the people commissioning the show don`t

think it`s cool, what hope is there?" said a source in the channel.

The show has struggled to win over the `Facebook generation` with the source adding, "The truth is nobody`s talking about Big Brother any more."

I will marry Raj before the end of the year: Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty has revealed her faith in karma, and believes her husband-to-be jewellery tycoon Raj Kundra must have been part of her previous life.

The actress, who is set to tie the knot with her London-born beau by the end of this year, said she was convinced the couple knew each other in a past life.

“I feel very lucky – to the point of actually feeling a little superstitious talking about him. He’s my soulmate,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

“I really believe in the whole karmic circle. He must have been part of my past life and he’s come back. Maybe we have some unfinished business,” she added.

The 34-year-old further said she was yet to finalise the wedding date that would coincide with an auspicious occasion.

She said: “It will definitely be before the end of the year but it has to be on an auspicious day such as a solar eclipse.”

Shilpa’s dad spills beans, says ‘daughter’s wedding in December’

Though Shilpa Shetty has been refusing to divulge much about her much-anticipated wedding but her daddy dearest has spilled the beans about the same.

According to reports, Shilpa’s father, Surendra Shetty had approached the Surat court seeking release of his passport to attend Shilpa’s wedding. In his plea, Shetty has mentioned the marriage of his daughter in London in the last month of this year, thereby confirming the speculation that Shilpa will be tying the knot with her long-time boy friend Raj Kundra in December 2009.

The passport of Surendra Shetty was seized back in 2003, for allegedly issuing extortion threat to a saree manufacturer.

It is believed that Shilpa will settle in London after the marriage with Raj Kundra.

Shilpa Shetty’s attempt to keep marriage plans under wraps have gone awry all thanks to daddy dearest!

Shilpa to launch healthy Indian food range to honour Jade Goody

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty is set to launch her own healthy Indian food range as a tribute to late Jade Goody, according to reports.The 34-year-old actress is to pay tribute to her Big Brother co-participant by launching her own brand of poppadoms.

Jade was accused of being racist after she called the star “Shilpa Poppa-dom”.

Shilpa’s chicken curry, which divided the house with accusations of under-cooked meat and excessive use of onions, is also expected to be included in the menu.

“Shilpa thinks Jade will have a little chuckle in heaven about the poppadoms,” a news daily quoted a source as saying.

“She has been inundated with requests for her curry recipe and one day she just thought: ‘Why don’t I just create my own range?’

“One of Shilpa’s passions in life is healthy living so she wanted to incorporate that into her dishes,” the source added.

Shilpa slams stores for black marketing swine flu masks

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has blasted stores that are selling masks at "three times" the price when the swine flu situation in many parts of the country is "grave"."Three days ago I scurried to buy myself a mask wanting to use it at the airport. Imagine my dismay at learning masks were out of stock at the medical stores but are being sold at three times the cost by some unscrupulous stores," Shilpa posted on her blog shilpashettylive.com/blog Friday morning.

"It`s insane that people could think of capitalising on such grave situations. I finally procured mine from my dentist where I had an appointment yesterday," she added.

The actress was leaving for the Mumbai airport to catch a flight to New York, where she is a guest at the `Grand Marshal for the Independence Day Parade`, which will happen Sunday.

"Indeed a proud moment, considering the 1st Grand Marshall was Raj Kapoor. It`s endearing to know that every year NRIs congregate in huge numbers to celebrate the fact that they are proud Indians. Hope I add to their joy," she wrote.

The 34-year-old also wished her fans a speedy recovery from the influenza.

"Hope and pray this serious swine flu situation tides away... please take care, prevention is better than cure... take care of your health and for those ill, get well soon," she posted.