Bollywood superstar Shilpa Shetty made a return to Leicester to support the candidacy of Keith Vaz, who is running for Leicester East parliament seat for a ninth time.
Shetty, the star of many Bollywood movies, came to Leicester to meet with supporters of Vaz and members of the public. The last time she came to Leicester was 17 years ago when she emerged triumphant from Celebrity Big Brother, where she won the show.
During her time at Big Brother, she was subjected to racist remarks and Vaz took up her cause which became global. Thousands came out in Leicester to greet her following her victory on 2nd February 2007.
Shetty said, “Hello Leicester! Hello Belgrave. I am delighted to be in Leicester today after 17 years to support the election of my dear friend Keith Vaz. I remember the ecstatic welcome I got from Leicester, it was the first and only city I visited in the UK when I won Celebrity Big Brother. My Family’s friendship with Keith Vaz goes back many years.”
She added, “He has been a champion for local people in Leicester and from India equally. He is dedicated and hardworking and has taken up 41,000 Leicester cases in his 32 years as an MP. His hard work for Leicester is legendary. Please vote for Keith Vaz on 4th July. His symbol is the Sun (Sooraj). So, let the sun rise. Please support Keith Vaz on 4th July. Vote Vaz.”
Keith Vaz added, “Shilpa and her family are old friends of ours. I am so delighted that she has come to Leicester to support my campaign. It is a true honour and a privilege to have her here. It is clear from the reaction of local people; how much she is valued and how much she is loved”.
Curator Emma Slocombe with ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
View of the entrance to Blickling Hall on a rainy autumn dayAmit Roy 
Kente cloth from Ghana in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall 
Decoration in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Palampore fragment made in coastal south-east India in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Bed valance dating from early 1700s in the Italian Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room with Indian carpet in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Karun Thakar has picked out the geometric patterns in the bookcase and the Kente cloth in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Large tapestry depicting Peter the Great defeating the Swedish army at the Battle of Poltava in 1709 Amit Roy 
ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Baghs and kanthas made by women provide contrast to the men only portraits in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Baghs and kanthas in the entrance Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
Baghs and Kanthas in the Great Hall in harmony with stained glass window at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
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Kimono in Upper Ante Room in Blickling Hall 
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Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Table carpet, European 1670-1680 Amit Roy 
Unfinished 17th century Italian embroidery in the Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Picture of Kashmir shows a romantic view of India Amit Roy 
A panel of Ashburnham bed hangings made in Gujarat for sale in Europe in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Colcha made in the 1600s by women in Bengal for the Portuguese market in the Long Gallery at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
