Richard is in Nepal now, What do you think abt this Guys

Gere, 57, kissed Shetty, 31, several times on the cheek at an Aids awareness event in Delhi earlier this month.

The court in Jaipur in Rajasthan state called it "an obscene act", after a local lawyer filed a complaint.

It was not immediately clear how the warrant could affect Gere, who is a frequent visitor to India.

Shetty, who found fame outside India as the winner of Celebrity Big Brother in the UK, has also been asked to appear before the court.

But her spokesman, Dale Bhagwager, said the actress had not received any court order or summons and was currently away visiting temples.

He said Shetty had not done anything wrong.

Bigger issue

"What is there to comment? They were three innocent, natural cute pecks on the cheek," said Mr Bhagwager.

"What can one say, when three pecks can be made into an issue in the land of the Kama Sutra? People should concentrate on the bigger issue of Aids, rather than this."

Photographs of the clinch were splashed across front pages of newspapers in India.

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

Dance scene

Shetty has defended Gere saying that it was all done "in good humour".

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

She said Gere had only been re-enacting a scene from his film Shall We Dance.

Under Indian law, a person convicted of public obscenity faces up to three months in prison, a fine or both.

Gere, star of films such as Chicago and Pretty Woman, is a Buddhist and travels to India frequently to visit the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in the north of the country.

lets not talk abt the biggest hypocratic creature on earth ie indians

They should focus more on curbing "human-sale" in their whorehouses and help prevent HIVs rather than burning effigies for a mere kiss on the cheeks for god's sake!

Its al these hindu extremists.. they have nothing better to do.
Richard Gere Ko Sajaha do sajaha do !!
Chummay khana Manahi hai manahi hai !!
ha ha ha

Is'nt there the display of affection in hindi movie? That kiss was just in a cheek, i don't understand the fuss where millions are infected with HIV

A bit ridiculous that the court actually issued such a warrant but I bet it wont stand if Gere or his people appeal (should they choose to).

Wasn't there a similar story where someone filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi because he spent the night in a hotel with his girlfriend? I wonder what happened to that.

I see this as a lot self-serving ballyhoo that should hopefully die down soon. BTW, I was chatting with someone in India, who is generally savvy with current affairs, and their take was on the lines of a tempest in a tea cup - most people in India couldn't care less about the issue.

It did seem like Richard Gere was being a little perverted. I guess old age makes people perverted.

Hey Ratobhaley -

How are you? Yeah, I agree this was totally stupid on his part ( - http://www.light.sajha.com/sajha/html/OpenThread.cfm?forum=2&ThreadID=44589 )

Indians r hypocrits , they are the breeders of the world ( keep in mind 1.3 billian ) population and don't want to talk abt sex n sexuality.
so what richard kisses their women , what abt in movies only reason they r making this an issue is because he is an internationally known actor and poor indians wanna be in media attention.
so F**k them bas**ds

http://newsbloggers.aol.com/2007/04/26/the-other-dinesh-goes-after-richard-gere/
OR

CLICK HERE if too lazy to copy and paste


Executive Summary:-
The authorities issued the Arrest Warrant only after Mr. Gere had left the country. HAHAHAHA!

Shilpa Shetty much have had a big "O" thinking about all the hollywood contracts she would now receive.

What a joke right? I guess they Lawyer who issued the arrest warrant hasn't been to too many of these events...or have just closed his eyes Unless its one of the Hollywood stars like Richard Gere and found the right opportunity to let his two mins of fame shine !

Sansar ma sabai bhanda population density pani unai ko cha ra randi khana pani unai ko cha, aslil film pani unai ko cha. baje athawa sasuro dekhne bittikai ghumto chopnu parne pani unailie, ahilay stage ma american lay chumda poila gaki swasni lie arkalay chume jasto ris uthne pani indian lie............i hate using these words kya kare indian ko swabhabai yasto cha.....bas..tar..d indian

अत्यन्त राम्रो जवाफ दिए भारतीय हरु ले। जस्तो देश् उस्तै चलन् हुनु पर्छ। अर्का को देश् मा आएर आफ्नो अमेरिकन कल्चर चलाएर कहाँ हुन्छ। अहिले हिन्दू हरु ले सारी लगाएर घुम्टो लगाएको भए। यिनी हरु ले भाग यो हाम्रो देश् हो भन्थियो होला। अहिले अरुको देश् मा गएर आफ्नो चलन् चलएर हुन्छ। नेपाल मा औंला।।कट्टु खोलेर हीन्ला। हामी आफ्नो परिवार सँग बसेर हेर्न त सक्दैनम् नी यिनी हरु ले पो ज् पानी सहन् गर्न सक्दछ्न्। अब चीन् मा गएर ज् पए तेइ गर्नु त भएन नि। नेपाल मा आएर नेपाली हरु को चलन् अनुसार काम्गर्नु पर्छ। नेपाली पानी अमेरिका मा गएर अमेरिकन को नीयम् पालन् गर्नु पर्छ। जैल् लनै पर्छ। पाठ् सीकौने दुई देश् मा एक् अहीले चिन् र भार्त हो। रमाइलो लाग्छ कति चाँही खैरे ले मात्र राम्रो गरेको भनेर बस्ने। धोती ले ज् सुकौ गाह्रोस्। तर अरुले आएर उनिहरु लाई कीस दिनु भएननी। अब नेपाल मा आएर कारीश्मा मानन्धर लाई आएर सबै को समु कीस् गरे त नेपाली प्नी तातीनथिए होला नी।
घुम्टो लगाएर एक्जाम दीन गएर हाम्रो कल्चर भने भाग भन् लान्।

rajesh hamal le kiss garos koi heroine lai but no westerners. let abhishek o amitabha kiss ne1 dey don care but cant take westerners do it coooooool. Westerners don allow ne1 2 brk theirs rulz in their country, iv ne1 breaks ends up in prison. dey also should kno foreign countries also hav rulz n culture so follow tat. iv u don wear clothes in canada,usa make sure u wear b4 comin nepal cuz we wear dresses. n iv we come 2 urz country n u don wear clothers we will come naked acc 2 ur culture"iv any ov dis exists".
hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahha

Gere apologizes (and hopefully the hullabaloo dies)

Source: - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Gere_apologises_for_kissing_Shilpa_Shetty/articleshow/1966310.cms

NEW DELHI: Breaking his silence following the outcry over the kissing controversy involving Shilpa Shetty, Hollywood star Richard Gere on Friday offered to apologise if he had "offended" anyone.

"What is most important to me is that my intentions as an HIV/AIDS advocate be made clear and that my friends in India understand that it has never been nor could it ever be my intention to offend you. If that had happened, of course it is easy for me to offer a sincere apology," he said in a statement.

Gere's comments came a day after a Jaipur court issued an arrest warrant against him for planting a kiss on Shilpa's cheeks in public during an AIDS awareness programme in Delhi a fortnight back.

In his statement addressed to "My dear Indian friends" and released to the press, Gere said "to be honest, this recent media storm has taken me by surprise."

Gere also said he felt sorry that Shilpa had to carry the burden following the controversy for no fault of hers.

"What we thought was a very successful HIV/AIDS event has taken a sad turn. The evening and event in question was intended to celebrate courageous people and partnerships in the supremely important fight against HIV/AIDS, a worldwide pandemic which has afflicted over 5 million Indians and is still increasing," he said.

Lauding Shetty, Gere said, "Shilpa Shetty is a courageous and wonderful woman who deserves high praise and support for her singular leadership against HIV/AIDS."

"I assure you, I have utmost respect for her, and she knows this. Of course, I've felt terrible that she should carry a burden that is no fault of hers. The burden is mine and no one else's," he said.

Gere hoped that after his statement, the media would end the controversy. In an apparent dig at the media, Gere said: "I would hope that the media could now end the circus around this episode and dedicate its positive resources and expertise to the eradication of HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases. That's what's really important here. My prayers are with you."

Describing the way he kissed Shetty, he said the step was a copy from his movie Shall We Dance . "My clumsy attempt at a Shall We Dance move was a naive misread of Indian customs and I assure you nothing more," he said.

Earlier, several lawyers voiced outrage over a warrant issued for the arrest for Hollywood star after he kissed Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.

This is a result of pre-planned actions... actions Shilpa probably had requested for. I think Richard Gere is innocent here.. it must be Shilpa's own intention. Richard may have taken advantage of Shilpa's conditions and take it to as extreme as possible. Shilpa has tasted the taste of money. What else can you expect? It is clear from Shilpa's statement afterwards.

On the other hand, India has been obseesed with American dollars. With dollars they have to learn to digest vulgarity,nudism, and violence of type found and made in the USA.

It's good to see the rest of the world making fun of Hindu culture. Getting some arrested for kissing? R U F!!!! kidding me? Let's be honest, nobody in the rest of the world will take it seriously, as a matter of fact, they're laughing about the news. These Desi need to learn that they no longer can hide their hypocricies if they want to be a part of globalization. For those who wants to defend the Indian, have you seriously thought about what "Kama Sutra" is about? Bollyhood movies watched by an outsider (which I have asked many of my friends) is nothing but diplay of sex, and even homosexuality to some of them (this I find amusing...Salman Khan with his tight pants and shirt running around the bushes, it reflects gay to the rest of the world...maybe not for Indian and some Nepali). I think the woman, Shilpa appears to caught between cultural delimma which I think is a clear picture of India that women are inferior to men, and their decision. She said it was little too much earlier, then I hope he doesn't take away with him a bad memories of India, and then "he was just enacting his movie". She knows Richard means no harm and she has the key to defend his action, but again she's less a men's decision in India.Just being a superstar is nothing compared to when you have no right to say.

Video of Gere on the Daily Show where he talks briefly about the kiss from hell ;)

Lol, thats fu`cked up. Wots with those Indians. They need to get a life.