SHILPA SHETTY INVITES JERMAINE JACKSON FOR DINNER

Says parting with sister Shamita was ‘heartbreaking’

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty "caught up on good old times" with her former "Celebrity Big Brother" housemate Jermaine Jackson, late pop legend Michael Jackson's brother, at her house here.

"I met Jermaine Jackson and his wife Halima after nearly three years...caught up on old times, got wistful over our understanding in the 'Big Brother' house. It had been so long but we picked up from where we left, one thing being constant - our friendship, so was happy on that front," Shilpa, who won "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2007, posted on her blog.

Jermaine landed in India on Friday for 10 days to team up with singer Adnan Sami on an album being produced by T-Series. During his stay here, he will also shoot for a concept video for the same song.

Shilpa says their meeting on Sunday (Oct 4) night was "a strange co-incidence" as her younger sister Shamita was heading for "Bigg Boss", the Indian version of "Celebrity Big Brother".

Shilpa is worried about how Shamita will fare well in "Bigg Boss".

"I scurried to spend the last two days before she left, tried to dissuade her considering she'll be away for three months if she lasts. (I) can't describe how tricky our last goodbye was. Now I know what she went through when I left three years ago to be a part of 'Big Brother'. We are very close so it was heartbreaking. But I'll get to see her everyday if that's any relief."

SHILPA SHETTY MISSES SEAFOOD DURING NAVARATRI

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who is currently in London, is missing non-vegetarian food, particularly seafood, since she is maintaining a pure vegetarian diet for nine days as part of the ongoing Navratri celebrations.

"This is the only time in the year that I turn vegetarian for the whole nine days and fast on the last (day). It's difficult, especially since I travel so much and to top it all I love sea food," Shilpa posted on her blog.

In London after a "fun" holiday in the Maldives, Shilpa is currently busy working on her food and beverage project, Gourmet Creations. She has invested in it with fiance Raj Kundra.

The actress has teamed up with Andy Varma, celebrity chef and head of the wholesale division and business development of the V8 Gourmet group, to bring out ready meals, pickles and chutneys.

"The curry project would be out by end of this year," she confirmed.

Lately, Shilpa has been able to do a lot of other things after the shooting of "The Man" has been delayed. While Sunny Deol plays male lead, Shilpa will be seen as his love interest in the action thriller.

"(I'm) reading scripts for my home production, and working on my Ghatkopar center for my Medispa. (I'm also) thrilled to announce the opening of IOSIS Medispa in Jalandhar," she added.

SHILPA SHETTY GOES INTO SILENT MODE

She’s reviving herself after a ‘hectic six months'

Shilpa Shetty is detecting a 'mauna vrat' (vow of silence) as part of a wellness path 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 elapsed about myself. This place has helped me get in touch with myself. You must be conspiracy 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 her blog.

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

The 34-year-old actress, who is a fitness and religion 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 lavishness 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 is attending for the wellness course by fiancé Raj Kundra, who is doing Level 1 of the course while Shilpa is doing the second level.

After the course the couple is scheduled to fly off to Maldives to celebrate Raj’s birthday on September 9.

As the date this year is 9.9.09, Shilpa is marking it by hosting a special celebration for Raj for which lavish plans have reportedly been made. Joining them will be their families and close friends.

POPPADOMS WILL BE IMPORTANT PART OF SHILPA'S GOURMET CREATIONS

Her variety will be sold from 2010. More 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 ready meals, 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."