"Big Brother (show) is not of my choice...But unpleasant things were said to her, also at her back...It was unfortunate that the girl was target of such abuse...I hope she wins and gets the big prize," Rushdie told reporters at the 'Jaipur Virasat Literary Festival' here.

However, he indicated that Shilpa had an option to walk out. "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Terming beauty therapist Jade Goody, the chief tormentor of Shilpa in the 'Celebrity Big Brother', as a "foul-mouthed ignorant girl", Rushdie said, "She is famous for nothing except being on reality TV." He also said Indians are extra-ordinarily prejudiced about skin colour and quite prejudiced about religion. There could be no country without such "narrowness", Rushdie said.

The problem of racism did exist in the world because "narrowness of mind" is a common heritage due to culture, religion, region and prejudices in the society of each country, he said.

"There were problems with the degree of racism in USA, UK and elsewhere, but cultural migration has narrowed down the identity problem and people are not making it complicated further as they move in a pluralistic society."