Words from Mumbai

Pooja Bedi, film actress and TV show host, says, "It's wonderful for her and the country. She has done us proud in an international, much-watched and much-hyped show where she conducted herself with dignity.

She has presented India in a good light and came out with shining colours.

"It will certainly help her career 1000 per cent and will take her far. It's not about winning the show but the manner in which she handled the situation with grace and equanimity. She also represented the modern Indian woman who combines dignity and beauty."

Ashok Pandit, a filmmaker, whose last film was Sheen, says, "Any achievement abroad by an Indian makes us all happy. But I also believe her publicists succeeded in creating sympathy towards her by highlighting the racist element. By projecting her as a victim, as though she was under mental torture, Shilpa got extensive support.

"Her win is good for the country and good for Bollywood but it will not make any difference where her career is concerned. Indians will not rush to see her films because of this win though the image of Shilpa as a good actress will always remain. She has done good films and she should be proud of that."