Shetty Defends Richard Gere Kiss

Shetty defends Richard Gere kiss Actress Shilpa Shetty has defended Richard Gere after the Hollywood actor sparked protests by kissing her at an Aids awareness rally in New Delhi.

Public displays of affection are still largely taboo in India, and protestors in Mumbai (Bombay) set fire to effigies of Gere following the incident.

"What he did was very sweet. It was all in good humour," said Shetty.

"He especially told me to tell the media that he didn't want to hurt any Indian sensibilities."

Gere has now left India for Tibet, where he is an advocate for improving human rights.

'Taken aback'

Footage of the kiss was shown repeatedly on Indian TV, while Indian newspapers carried the picture on their front pages.

Shetty said the actor had "only tried to entertain the people".

"Shall We Dance was one of Richard's films and he struck this pose in the movie," the actress and Celebrity Big Brother contestant explained.

"I was unaware he was going to do it, so I was taken aback."

Shetty said Gere had apologised "profusely" to her, and added there was no need for the "adverse reaction" the embrace had provoked in some Indian cities.

"I am happy that this has happened because at least now people will talk about the issue of Aids and HIV," she said.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/6563425.stm

Published: 2007/04/17 11:13:05 GMT http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0704170005apr17,1,6214297.story? coll=chi-entertainmentfront-hed

PERSONALS: WHO?S WHO & WHAT?S UP Just a hunk of burning love Mobs set fire to Gere effigies after kisses

April 17, 2007

NEW DELHI -- Angry crowds in several Indian cities burned effigies of Richard Gere on Monday after he swept a popular Bollywood actress into his arms and kissed her several times during an AIDS-awareness event.

Photographs of the 57-year-old actor embracing Shilpa Shetty and kissing her on the cheek at an HIV/AIDS awareness event in New Delhi were splashed across Monday's front pages in India -- a country where public displays of affection are largely taboo.

In Mumbai, members of the right-wing Hindu nationalist group Shiv Sena beat burning effigies of Gere with sticks and set fire to glamor shots of Shetty.

Similar protests broke out in other cities.

The two appeared at a news conference in New Delhi on Sunday to highlight the HIV/AIDS epidemic among India's truck drivers. In front of a cheering crowd, Gere kissed the giggling Shetty on the hand, then kissed her on both cheeks before bending her in a full embrace to kiss her cheek again.

"This is a bit too much," Shetty said after the embrace.

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Personals was compiled by Kim Profant from Tribune news services and staff reports