Even before she won Celebrity Big Brother, Shilpa Shetty had become a worldwide sensation following the much hullabaloo on the show.

The Bollywood actress faced racist remarks during the show at the hands of some of her 'white' housemates. But now she will be laughing all the way to the bank for keeping her dignity intact and handling the situation with utmost grace.

After being inundated with six figure offers for book deals, TV work, film parts, endorsements and a chance to co-host the UK version of a reality cricket show based on the 'Indian Idol,' rumors are that Shetty is to be offered a lead role in a new BBC comedy, set in an Indian call center.

Three of Britain's most successful scriptwriters have written the show, including Sanjeev Bhaskar, star of The Kumars at No 42. Sanjeev was in Mumbai yesterday (28Jan07) for talks with Shilpa's agents.

"She would be perfect for the show. If she is keen, I will write her a part. She has shown she appeals to the British viewing public and that cannot be ignored now by screenwriters back in London," The Mirror quoted him, as saying.

Sanjeev's proposed comedy is just the first of several lucrative and high-profile deals that are expected to come her way.

Speaking about the ugly scenes on Big Brother, Bhaskar said: "Shilpa Shetty has maintained poise, grace and compassion in the house. She has acted as a young, well brought-up modern Indian and has ironically presented traits that most people outside of India consider to be traditional British values".

"All of this in the face of sustained snide and adolescent attitudes from some of her housemates, she needs to be congratulated. If there is another series of The Kumars, then she would be most welcome at No 42, although I think she would be an interesting guest at the call center if the project goes to series," he added.

On the other hand, Shilpa has also expressed her desire to be associated with the show, saying she is a big fan of the Kumars - the comedy chat show based on a "typical" Indian family.

Her sister, Shamita, said: "She and I are great fans of the Kumars. We watch it each time it's on Indian television and it makes us laugh a great deal."

Shilpa is now represented in London by PR guru Max Clifford. Her mother, Sunanda, and the actress's representative in India, Bhupinder Sachdev, have flown to London to help sift through offers.