Shilpa Shetty's car pelted with stones

Shilpa Shetty is at the centre of yet another controversy in her home country after being targeted by supporters of Ramdas Athavale, president of the Republican Party of India.

Athavale has claimed that he was asked to appear in Bigg Boss, the Indian version of Big Brother, but producers later did a U-turn "because of Shilpa's manoeuvres".

Shetty, who is hosting the reality series, was prevented from leaving the Bigg Boss venue on Friday after it was invaded by Athavale's supporters. The Bollywood star had just completed an interview with the latest evictee when her car was pelted with stones.

Speaking after the incident, Shetty told IANS: "They wouldn't let me leave. And they were pelting stones at my car! What had my poor car done to earn their wrath? What have I done, will someone please tell me?

"Will Mr. Athavale and his supporters please understand that I had nothing to do with the nomination of candidates for Bigg Boss?"

Shetty was criticised in India last year after actor Richard Gere kissed her at an Aids awareness event. The incident was categorised as an "obscene act" by a court in Jaipur.

The actress was also involved in an international furore in January 2007 following claims that she had been the target of racist bullying on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK.