CTV.ca News Staff
Bollywood is showing support for film star Shilpa Shetty after widespread anger erupted over racial abuse she suffered while competing on the hit British show "Celebrity Big Brother."
The outrage emerged after fellow contestants made fun of Shetty's accent, her name and her cultural background. She was called a "dog" on an episode in which she was reduced to tears.
"What is happening on Big Brother is just holding the mirror to the Western society," leading Bollywood film maker Mahesh Bhatt told Reuters. "This is the real, discriminating face of the West you can see on the streets of London or New York."
Even Britain's prime-minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, currently visiting India on a trade mission, found himself pressed to address the issue.
Here is the controversial episode (warning, some profanity)
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According to the BBC, he said he wanted to reassure Indians that Britain "prides itself on tolerance and fairness."
In the eastern Indian city of Patna, dozens of Shetty supporters staged a protest and burned effigies of her roommates.
"Shilpa is very popular in Bihar, and her song and dance numbers in the movies have won our hearts," said protestor Ravindra Yadav, referring to the state of which Patna is the capital.
Almost 20,000 British viewers of the show have complained that the 31-year-old actress was a target of racism -- prompting an investigation by British media watchdog Ofcom.
U.K. officials, including Prime Minister Tony Blair, have spoken out about the backlash.
Blair said in parliament that he didn't watch "Big Brother," but that he agreed "with the principles" mentioned by another Labour MP who spoke out against racism on the show.
A spokesperson for the prime minister also said that "what clearly is to be regretted and countered is if there is any perception abroad that in any way we tolerate racism in this country."
U.K. police are also investigating emails sent to the show's broadcaster that contain threats to some of the contestants.
The show's contestants include Michael Jackson's brother, Jermaine, and American actor Dirk Benedict, best known as "Face" from "The A Team."
On the show's website, Shetty describes what she wants out of the show.
"I have zero expectations. The only thing I really hope to keep is my self-respect and my dignity," she says.
The controversy boosted ratings as Wednesday's show was watched by 4.5 million viewers, an increase of one million since the last episode.
With files from The Associated Press