Shilpa Shetty to receive Rajiv Gandhi Award

- Planet Bollywood Special Correspondant           Let us know what you think about this story

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, leader of Congress Party Ms Sonia Gandhi, Union Minister of External Affairs Mr Pranab Mukherjee, and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh are expected to grace the occasion.

The award, which has been named after India’s late Prime Minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi, recognises the new thrust he had given to the quality movement in India to propel the country into the 21st Century with pride. Shilpa Shetty received international respect and adulation when she won this year's Celebrity Big Brother, following a worldwide controversy that placed her in the centre of a debate on race and bullying. In personifying the core of Indian cultural values and tradditions and handling the situation with such grace and decorum, Shilpa has become an international ambassador for India and its values of equality, peace and justice, rallying support from across the globe.

Earlier recipients of the 'Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award' include eminent personalities such as Mukesh Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Adi Godrej, Anand Mahindra, Sunil Mittal, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Sant Singh Chatwal, Shah Rukh Khan, Tarun Tejpal, Rajdeep Sardesai, Sania Mirza and Sachin Tendulkar.

In speaking on behalf of the international actress, who is currently active in rehearsing for her forthcoming musical, her spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar says: "To be a worldwide achiever at such a young age, bestowed with flattering accolades, is a matter of utmost prestige for Shilpa. She is extremely grateful to be chosen for this honour."

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