Sultry Shilpa stars in reality show

Bollywood siren Shilpa Shetty will be one of the housemates in the British celebrity version of reality television show Big Brother. The sultry star — who has reportedly been paid Rs31.5mn (C$839,522) to appear in the hit show — said her glamorous image and sex appeal had led producers to offer her the part, The Times of India reported. “My sex appeal lies in my body and my body language,” she said.

My carriage, my eyes, my smile... everything,” Shetty was quoted as saying in the newspaper.

Shetty is famous for her svelte figure and tantalising dance routines. She has acted in over 35 films and was applauded for her role as an Aids victim in the 2004 film Phir Milenge.

Big Brother will feature around 13 celebrity contestants who are closeted in a house in Britain for three months with no access to the outside world. Each week, one of them will be voted out by the audience. The newspaper said speculation was rife that Shetty would compete with celebrities including pop diva Whitney Houston, party girl Tara Reid and Kevin Federline, the ex-husband of Britney Spears.

Other media reports say Shetty’s housemates will mainly be British celebrities.

Divorce rates are rising in Islamabad - the fastest in Pakistan - especially in its elite class. Last year 393 divorce cases were reported to the Conciliation Court of Islamabad (CCI), the highest in any district of the country. This is more than one divorce a day in the conservative Muslim country. An amendment to the Constitution made in 2002 allowing women to get divorce through the court is said to have led to a sharp increase in the number of divorce cases.  A judge said that the majority of those approaching his court for divorce, second marriage or maintenance allowance came from well-to-do families.

Kite fest returns

The traditional Basant kite festival, which heralds the end of winter and the arrival of spring will take place in Lahore, Pakistan next month following the lifting of a two –year ban on kite flying.It was marred by tragedies in recent years as spectators fell off rooftops, were electrocuted by powerlines or cut by kite strings.

Actress's hunger strike

A British tourist found dead in a jungle in Maharashtra was allegedly killed by villagers who suspected him of “misbehaving” with a woman. Stephen Bennett, 40, of Cheltenham, “was found hanging in a jungle in Roha on December 12,” Bennett  was killed when he went to a nearby village and knocked on the door of Nirmala Rane.
Rane had been working outside on her porch but went inside and bolted the door when she saw the stranger approach.  Her husband thought Bennet had “misbehaved” with his wife. Four people have been arrested.