By R. Manishaa, Bollywood Trade News Network

Bollywood directors who had begun to look at Shilpa Shetty as passé not very long ago, have begun to see her in a new light after seeing her ability to stick out in adverse circumstances in the Big Brother’s house, besides gracefully bringing the racial abuse issue to the fore. “ I don’t think Shilpa Shetty is passé any more. Her participation and presence on the international show has been very effective in bringing out an issue that has been so often placed under the cover. My respect for her as a woman of caliber and substance has definitely increased, so has my entire perception of her as a person. I have now begun to see her as a great combination of beauty and brains. Besides she’s been looking fabulous on the show,” says filmmaker Suneel Darshan, who had worked with the actress in JAANWAR. Suneel feels that her popularity on the show will definitely translate into endorsements and films that are likely to come her way. “It has given a big boost to her image, no doubt,” he says.

Director Madhur Bhandarkar echoes Suneel’s point of view. “The kind of opposition and problem that Shilpa encountered does happen on reality shows because there’s pent up anger and a sense of one-upmanship. Moreover, it has become a fashion to use abusive language against Indians but the way she tackled the situation speaks a lot of her intelligence. Her image as an actress and the way she is perceived has definitely changed. I am definitely impressed with her,” he says.

Director Tanuja Chandra on the other hand is amused by the kind of attention and noise that has been made over the whole issue but she too agrees that Shilpa stands to benefit immensely from the show. “I don’t think the issue demanded so much attention as to necessitate the intervention of big political personalities like Tony Blair but the attention that Shilpa has got out of the show has certainly served the purpose of her participating in it. She should now aim to win the game as far as possible. One thing is for sure, it will certainly not take away from her popularity, on the contrary it has only added to her career prospects. This was the right step at the right time in her career,” she says.