By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

The common cold that Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is suffering from in London doesn't jell well with her uncommon performance on Commonwealth Day. Shilpa, who delivered a speech on racism and AIDS March 12, is ecstatic about it.

"Only four other participants were given a chance to give individual speeches. There was a woman Anne from Ireland whose brother and sister had been shot... people whose trauma made a difference to global politics.

"Since I am associated with the Commonwealth, issues that concern me - AIDS and racism - got a platform on Commonwealth Day. These are issues that I've become synonymous with," Shilpa told IANS.

The actress, who recently won Britain's reality TV show "Celebrity Big Brother", says delivering the speech was a tough job.

"I come from a place where AIDS and discrimination often go hand in hand. So I was able to couple the two topics in two paragraphs. It was tough. But what was tougher was to give that speech in front of the Queen. I had to give the speech exactly the way it was written. But I added a line. And it was well accepted. So, I am pretty proud of myself."

Shilpa confesses she's basically shy.

"I completely clam up in front of outsiders. But, now I can't afford the luxury of introversion. To stand on a global platform like the Commonwealth is not an easy task. There we were, dealing with serious issues like peace, democracy and equality. And I've to conduct myself in a very responsible manner. But to see the pride on faces of the Indian community, took the nervousness out of me."