'Shilpa should quit show if she can't stand the heat'

JAIPUR: Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, who was at the receiving end of racial slur during the 'Celebrity Big Brother' reality TV show, should quit it if she cannot "stand the heat", renowned British author Salman Rushdie said on Sunday.

Rushdie termed as "unpleasant" the racial onslaught against the actress but said Shilpa has an option to walk out.

"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," he told reporters at the 'Jaipur Virasat Literary Festival' here.

"Big Brother (show) is not of my choice...But unpleasant things were said to her, also at her back...It was unfortunate that the girl was target of such abuse...I hope she wins and gets the big prize," Rushdie said.

Terming beauty therapist Jade Goody, the chief tormentor of Shilpa in the 'Celebrity Big Brother', as a "foul-mouthed ignorant girl", Rushdie said, "She is famous for nothing except being on reality TV."

He also said Indians are extra-ordinarily prejudiced about skin colour and quite rejudiced about religion. There could be no country without such "narrowness", Rushdie said.

The problem of racism did exist in the world because "narrowness of mind" is a common heritage due to culture, religion, region and prejudices in the society of each country, he said.