It takes work to look like this!

Shilpa Shetty on her dedication to her body and what a good blow-dry can do for you

What beauty secrets are you going to share through your new medi-spa?
All the years of learning from my mistakes, the exposure I've got from my travels and the constant reinvention I've done. A medi-spa is a lifestyle modification plan. It's not a slimming center where you come in, get out and again put on weight. You can't come in saying, 'I want to look like Shilpa Shetty' and go back and do what you want.

It takes work to be Shilpa Shetty.
Yes, I live a balanced, healthy lifestyle. I want people to know it doesn't come for free. But if you want to achieve it, it's possible. When I first came to the industry, I had hair that was curly. I now use a good blow-dry. A small tip like that can really work!
If people think I was born like this, my first film is proof enough of how I've worked on myself (laughs). Yeah, like using the right make-up, spa therapies, facials, doing yoga. Now I have it all under one roof.

Did you always want to get into beauty?
It may sound silly, but I've always wanted my own little beauty parlour, as we used to call it 15 years ago. That's why I did a beautician's course. I thought I would be terrible at business, so why not have a back-up plan of owning a salon? So I was 15 when I did the course. But then, God had another plan for me.

Your boyfriend Raj Kundra and you just bought a stake in the Rajasthan Royals. Is Raj involved in this business collaboration?
(Giggles) I take great financial advice from him. He knows how to do business. My partner Kiran (Bawa) and I are two girls who come from affluent backgrounds, so we're forever spending too much on our spas. Her brother Karan and Raj keep us in check. Raj is also a client of our spa and he enjoys his chocolate pedicures (laughs).

You must have heard about how seriously ill Jade Goody is...
It's (pauses) I can't put it in words. It's unfortunate that we didn't start off on the right footing. But our equations have changed now. I wish her well. I spoke to her; we keep in touch. Whatever I say is not going to express her pain. I'm happy she got married. She's fulfilled one of her dreams.

A production company, Rajasthan Royals, yoga DVDs, this new spa are you spreading yourself too thin?
I'm still doing films. I'm working on two projects. Whenever I leverage my name, I give it my 100 per cent. There aren't any actresses who do this much. I use my opportunities.

So do you have time left for your boyfriend?
I make the time. I prioritise. I may be losing my voice and need a nice long spa myself at the end of all this, but this is the best time for me.