Shilpa Shetty, who was virtually unknown in Britain until a month ago, has suddenly become a phenomenon in this country.

The Big Brother winner is set to make millions of pounds from the show, and if her aides are to be believed the stunning star - who kept her dignity intact even while she suffered racist bullying at the hands of some of her fellow contestants, is in line to rake in an astonishing 10 million pounds.

The controversy that triggered protests in India and sparked a race relations debate in the UK - has propelled 31-year-old Shetty onto the world stage, and her business managers are said to be busy working tirelessly to turn this profile into profit.

Shetty's aides in Britain and India have already been 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,' and rumours are also high that the actress is to be offered a lead role in a new BBC comedy, set in an Indian call centre.

While her first British magazine, television and newspaper interviews have already made 300,000 pounds, a further 200,000 dollars is being negotiated for worldwide media interviews to take place within the next week.

Also down home, her otherwise sagging career has received a much needed push as Shilpa has already won the lead roles in two new Bollywood films, titled Apne and Metro.

She is also in talks to star in a movie called Shantaram set in the Mumbai underworld starring Johnny Depp, and a further film based on her fight with Miss Goody in the Big Brother house directed by Bollywood film-maker Shashilal Nair.

No fewer than 25 other film-makers in India, Britain and Los Angeles also have offers on the table.

A source close to Shetty said last night that 10 million pounds was a conservative estimate of her future earnings.

"We are estimating £3 million in the first year. Over the coming three to five years, that figure could very quickly rise to 10 million pounds. That sounds a lot but we are talking about a woman who is intelligent and beautiful, and already has an established career as a Bollywood actress," The Daily Mail quoted her, as saying.

"Her magnanimous approach to the bullying that went on so publicly in the Big Brother house won her a legion of fans. And it rocketed her from C-list to A-list status in India also where the fan base now runs to many, many millions.

If Jade Goody can earn £8 million from her Big Brother fame, think what Shilpa - who speaks several languages and has become a heroic figure in recent days - can do," the source added.

The depth of the Indian actress's appeal emerged as she was yesterday hailed in the Commons.

Prompted by a question by MP Keith Vaz, Broadcasting Minister Shaun Woodward replied: "I am sure I can speak for all Members in the House on congratulating her for an outstanding performance, enduring - regardless of the circumstances that happened in the Big Brother house - a pretty ghastly few weeks one way or another.

"She truly deserved to win and I am sure the whole House congratulates her on winning," the Minister added.