Give Him A Break. Review on Richard Gere

An Indian court issued arrest warrants for Hollywood actor Richard Gere and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty yesterday, saying their kiss at a public function "transgressed all limits of vulgarity, " media reports said.

Judge Dinesh Gupta issued the warrants in the northwestern city of Jaipur after a local citizen filed a complaint charging that the public display of affection offended local sensibilities. Gupta earlier viewed television footage of the event, which he called "highly sexually erotic, " saying the pair violated India's strict public obscenity laws.

Richard Gere hugs and kisses Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty during a mid-March event for HIV-AIDS awareness in New Delhi, India. They are charged with "transgressed all limits of vulgarity and have the tendency to corrupt the society, " PTI quoted the judge as saying.

The cases against celebrities are often filed by publicity seekers  are common in conservative India. They add to a backlog of legal cases that has nearly crippled the country's judicial system.

Gere left India shortly after the kissing incident and it was not immediately clear how the warrant would affect him. His publicist, Alan Nierob, said there would be no comment from the actor.

Gere is a frequent visitor to India, promoting health issues and the cause of Tibetan exiles. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has his headquarters in the north Indian town of Dharmsala.

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

Last week, crowds in several Indian cities burned effigies of the 57-year-old star of An Officer and a Gentleman, American Gigolo and Pretty Woman after he embraced Shetty and kissed her several times on her cheeks during an HIV/AIDS awareness event in the Indian capital.

Photographs of the clinch were then splashed across front pages in India - where public displays of affection are largely taboo.

The judge was angry that Shetty had not resisting Gere's kisses and ordered her to appear in court.

Shetty is on a religious pilgrimage in southern India was upset by the news. She wishes that people would focus on the real issue, AIDS awareness, and not three pecks on her cheek.

Shetty has said the embrace was not obscene and that the media should instead focus on HIV/AIDS awareness.

"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 in an interview last week. "I understand people's sentiments, but I don't want a foreigner to take bad memories from here."

Richard Gere:

Is one of the nicest Hollywood movie stars.

He was married twice. His first wife was the model Cindy Crawford and he is now married to Carey Lowell, (they have on child).

His films include, Days of Heaven(1978), American Gigolo(1980), An Officer & a Gentleman, (1982),  Wall Street(1987), Chicago(2002) and his latest film called The Hoax.

He is a Buddist and visits the Dalai Lama often. He has said, "I don't want to be a personality."

"When I am there [Tibet], I am very happy. The Tibetans radiate. They literally send out light because the Dalai Lama generates love and compassion to every human being, (he has committed himself to that). I haven't made that leap yet. I haven't given up self-aspiration. I still love making movies."

Here is a link to his Foundation to help the people of Tibet:

https://gerefoundation.org

What I Think:

I believe Mr. Gere should have checked out the traditions of India before he kissed and bowed to Shilpa Shetty at an AIDS benifit.

Both have apologized and I think that should have been enough.

Thanks for reading my thoughts on this.

Lyla