/> Monday 12 March. Shilpa will be giving a speech in London for a prestigious global summit.

"Yes, I'll speak at the Commonwealth Day," she says nervously. "Bloody hell! Only four people will be giving a speech. And I'm one of them. It's freaking me out.

This year the theme is 'Respecting Differences & Promoting Understanding' It's about racism. And it's an issue that I'm now associated with. I better deliver. I'll be sharing the platform with world leaders and, ahem ahem, the Queen."

Shilpa has an expert help her write the speech. "It has to be five minutes of no beating around the bush. I feel extremely nervous but also very very honoured to be representing my country at such a prestigious event."

Back home, for a fortnight Shilpa has no time for her family. "I've a calendar launch on Saturday. Then I 've to attend the Filmfare awards on Sunday."

Shilpa's wardrobe designers are going ballistic trying to keep up with their superstar-clientele's social schedules. "Luckily I've two dear designer friends who keep me well dressed wherever I go after Big Brother, Neeta Lulla who had done my dress for my event at the House of Commons, and Tarun Tihliani who did my clothes for Big Brother.

Neeta and Tarun are being driven up the wall by my demands. I'm sure they dread my midnight calls from London, asking for a dress overnight. They must be so fed up of couriering me clothes to London."

Of course once in a while Shilpa is persuaded to wear international designers "For an occasion in London Vivien Westwood dressed me from head to toe. Oherwise it's Neeta and Tarun all the way for me."

Shilpa cracks up. "The funny thing is, I went to London with two bags and came back with seven. In just fifty days!!!

Thanks to Shilpa the image of the Bollywood heroine abroad has changed. "That's true," she concedes. "Earlier they were seen as voluptuous. Now they look at me and wonder at how thin I am and how clued in I am to global fashion trends. I can discuss Armani as well as Tarun and Neeta."