<p>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. </p><p>Public displays of affection are still largely taboo in India, and protestors in Mumbai (Bombay) set fire to effigies of Gere following the incident. </p><p>"What he did was very sweet. It was all in good humour," said Shetty. </p><p>"He especially told me to tell the media that he didn't want to hurt any Indian sensibilities." </p><p>Gere has now left India for Tibet, where he is an advocate for improving human rights. </p><p>'Taken aback' </p><p>Footage of the kiss was shown repeatedly on Indian TV, while Indian newspapers carried the picture on their front pages. </p><p>Shetty said the actor had "only tried to entertain the people". </p><p>"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.</p><p>"I was unaware he was going to do it, so I was taken aback." </p><p>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. </p><p>"I am happy that this has happened because at least now people will talk about the issue of Aids and HIV," she said. </p><p>Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/6563425.stm</p><p>Published: 2007/04/17 11:13:05 GMT http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0704170005apr17,1,6214297.story? coll=chi-entertainmentfront-hed </p><p>PERSONALS: WHO?S WHO & WHAT?S UP Just a hunk of burning love Mobs set fire to Gere effigies after kisses</p><p>April 17, 2007</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Similar protests broke out in other cities.</p><p>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.</p><p>"This is a bit too much," Shetty said after the embrace.</p><p>------</p><p>Personals was compiled by Kim Profant from Tribune news services and staff reports </p><p>Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune </p>