cyberscorpi0
04-27-2007, 08:09 AM
http://www.citynews.ca/images/2007-04/apr2607-richard_gere_getty.jpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt23lqF-nM8)
A kiss is just a kiss, unless the offending buss involves Hollywood actor Richard Gere.
Gere is the subject of arrest warrants in India after a resident in the city of Jaipur filed a complaint about his public display of affection for Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
The two shared a platonic embrace at a public function, which the complainant called "an obscene act" that offended local sensibilities, reports said.
Judge Dinesh Gupta issued the arrest warrants after subpoenaing footage of the event last week.
It's unclear what punishment Gere might face, if any. He's since left India but is a frequent visitor to the conservative country as a promoter of health issues and a supporter of the Dalai Lama, whose headquarters is in the Indian town of Dharmsala.
A public obscenity conviction in India could carry punishment of up to three months in jail, a fine, or both.
For her part, Shetty feels the affectionate gesture from the 57-year-old Pretty Woman star was not offensive.
"I understand this is his culture, not ours. But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to overreact in such manner," she said last week, adding that the commotion was taking away from the reason Gere was there - to promote HIV and AIDS awareness.
"I understand people's sentiments, but I don't want a foreigner to take bad memories from here."
Shetty is famous in part for her win on a Celebrity Big Brother reality show competition.
A kiss is just a kiss, unless the offending buss involves Hollywood actor Richard Gere.
Gere is the subject of arrest warrants in India after a resident in the city of Jaipur filed a complaint about his public display of affection for Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
The two shared a platonic embrace at a public function, which the complainant called "an obscene act" that offended local sensibilities, reports said.
Judge Dinesh Gupta issued the arrest warrants after subpoenaing footage of the event last week.
It's unclear what punishment Gere might face, if any. He's since left India but is a frequent visitor to the conservative country as a promoter of health issues and a supporter of the Dalai Lama, whose headquarters is in the Indian town of Dharmsala.
A public obscenity conviction in India could carry punishment of up to three months in jail, a fine, or both.
For her part, Shetty feels the affectionate gesture from the 57-year-old Pretty Woman star was not offensive.
"I understand this is his culture, not ours. But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to overreact in such manner," she said last week, adding that the commotion was taking away from the reason Gere was there - to promote HIV and AIDS awareness.
"I understand people's sentiments, but I don't want a foreigner to take bad memories from here."
Shetty is famous in part for her win on a Celebrity Big Brother reality show competition.