Shilpa Shetty has received another prestigious honor from the UK. Leeds Metropolitan University has awarded the actress an Honorary Doctorate for outstanding contributions to cultural diversity. This award in the past was given to Yash Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan and Shabana Azmi. Shilpa is the youngest Indian actor to receive the honorary degree.
She was presented with the Doctorate of Arts at the summer graduation ceremony of the University. Joy Kumar, director of students-centered change management said about Shetty, “In Shilpa Shetty you are graduating with someone who rose to that
challenge with great dignity and poise, making a difference.” Handing Shilpa her degree she added, “For showing great character, for making a difference to our multicultural society, for using her talents to the full.”
A visibly moved Shetty accepted the award and said in her speech, “I am so overwhelmed, I am choked with emotions and I can’t stop smiling. I have won some awards, at the cost of sounding immodest, I have never seen my mother beam so much as she is today. I can see the pride in her eyes because she’s always wanted me to graduate.”
After the ceremony she said that this was a dream come true and that she was humbled. “…They bestowed this honour to me. So I have to act responsibly and I have tried my best to do my best in whatever I have done in my life and I am going to continue to do so,” she said.
We congratulate Dr. Shetty for receiving this amazing honor!
