Having won the international show, what would she advice the participants ?“Just be yourselves,” is her mantra to success. Staying in the house reveals a different facet to your personality according to Shilpa and ultimately it is that person whom the audience finds entertaining or interesting who emerges the winner. As to how the participants should equip themselves, materially and spiritually while entering the house, the actress suggests that to maintain a calm they should practice yoga. No, she is not trying to sell her yoga DVDs here but, “it genuinely helps your peace of mind,” she avers. Since books are not allowed inside, she feels it will help, if the contestants carry pictures of loved ones. “In three days, it starts sinking into you, that you are away from your family and are on your own. You start missing them and the photos help,” she says. For women, her advice is carry a lip balm, mascara, kajal and eye cream. “I don’t like to be seen without make-up, so I used to even get out of the bed with these huge glasses,” she smiles.
What prompts people to subject themselves to such depravation - The contestants are completely cut-off from the world. There are no phones, newspapers, televisions or music systems inside the house. “People who either want to become famous overnight or have nothing to hide from the world are the ones willing to get locked in the house,” says Shilpa clarifying that it was the latter that urged her to be a part of Celebrity.. . So, is she in touch with any of her housemates? “I was in touch with a few people like Jackson but now their numbers have changed,” she smiles. However, the person she remembers most from the house is, no, not Jade Goody, but Davina McCall. “I used to wait eagerly to hear her nice, warm voice everyday because after a point you get bored with the others in the house,” quips Shilpa. And that’s the role, she will be playing in season II of Bigg Boss. “I will be like an agony aunt. And because I have already been there and done that, I will be able to empathise bettter with the housemates. I aim to be entertaining with a human touch,” she says.

To a query on who is the one person she would like to see locked in the house, Shilpa who has danced to the popular UP Bihar number promptly says Laloo Prasad Yadav. “He has a very good sense of humour and I respect him,” she justifies. And would she go into the house if she was approached again? “Never, the first time I didn’t know what I was getting into. I was the odd one out and it was very difficult,” she reminisces. What about sister Shamita? “No,” stressses Shilpa.
So what prompted her to host the show? “One, I am familiar with the format and two I couldn’t refuse the offer that was made to me,” she says flashing her pearly whites.