March 13, 2007	Tuesday	Safar 23, 1428

LONDON: Indian actress Shilpa Shetty said she was desperate to put the “Celebrity Big Brother” race row behind her as she met Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at a Commonwealth Day event on Monday.

The Bollywood star, 31, delivered an address touching on issues such as racism and AIDS at a Westminster Abbey event marking Commonwealth Day.

In January Shetty was a contestant on British reality television show “Celebrity Big Brother,” in which she was subjected to racist abuse from other contestants, which sparked protests in India and huge media coverage.

Shetty, who was one of five people to address the Commonwealth event, said she was pleased that no police charges were brought against the other Big Brother housemates.

“I just want to say it was a reality show. Too much was made of it,” she said.—AFP