Ekta Kapoor (television producer): What’s happening to Shilpa is terrible. It’s amazing how she has maintained her dignity. Hats off to her. I’d have given it back to those racial snobs so hard they’d have been crying about discrimination.

Aryan Vaid (model-actor): I’ve been on the Indian counterpart (Bigg Boss). Believe me, it’s tough and it’s scary and scarring. The fact that Shilpa’s humiliation on CBB is being discussed in British Parliament shows the matter cannot be taken lightly. But to make this an issue of ‘us’ against ‘them’ is slightly premature. Let’s not forget, in the CBB House people resort to a lot of mind games. Everyone in there is under a lot of pressure.

Arshad Warsi (host of Bigg Boss) First of all, let me say Shilpa is beautiful, articulate and very camera-friendly. Hence she’s a sitting target for all the other inmates at Celebrity Big Brother. The people who are heckling her are basically losers. But I must say the show’s format is about pushing each other over the brink. When you go into CBB you’re ready to face this kind of behaviour. That’s what the show is all about. I’m proud of Shilpa. If she’s affecting them it means she’s better than all of them in there.”

Dino Morea (model-actor): If they’re calling Shilpa a “dog” or refusing to eat her food it doesn’t amount to racism, though that’s bad enough. But if they’re making snide references to her skin colour and her accent and calling her “Paki” then I’m afraid this is a serious issue, and we need to take very serious note of it. If someone were to call me these names I’d beat the sh*t out of him. I don’t know how Shilpa is coping. Maybe she’s determined to win. I was offered the desi version of Big Brother. But I refused Bigg Boss. I couldn’t take the thought of cameras hounding me everywhere. It’s not just about an invasion of privacy. It’s about some basic needs. When you’re sleeping or in the loo you need to be absolutely alone. And you really need time to have at least some time for yourself.”

Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra (film director): I think the show is being given too much importance.

Simi Garewal: I don’t believe any living creature should be humiliated, and definitely not for public entertainment. Still, I don’t think Shilpa should walk out mid-game. I think the channel should disallow racial slurs. But you know what? This is going to be the trend now. Every country will have reality shows just to win eyeballs. I only hope racial discrimination doesn’t become a TRP-boosting device.