'I feel sorry for Richard Gere!'
Shilpa Shetty is upset about the Hollywood heartthrob being demonised over a kiss (we wholeheartedly agree)
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| Kissa Kiss Ka: Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty at the HIV/Aids awareness event in Delhi |
Shilpa Shetty is back in the hot seat. On Sunday night, at a public event to promote awareness for HIV/Aids in Delhi, Hollywood actor Richard Gere swept her into his arms and planted a volley of kisses on her cheek.
The 3,000 odd truck drivers who witnessed the act were apparently scandalised, or so the 'unbiased' news channels would have us believe.
After all, it's against our Bharatiya sanskruti and all that. Over to the miss to discuss the kiss, then.
What was your first reaction when Richard Gere kissed you?
I was taken aback naturally, but it was really harmless. It was in good humour and I thought it was rather sweet of him. Yes, what he did might not be a part of "our culture", but let's not forget that he doesn't belong to our culture.
Did you have any idea he'd kiss you on stage?
No. It was a very impromptu thing and he was miming a scene from his film Shall We Dance. Richard is a very warm person.
In the afternoon, when we were having lunch together, we forged a genuine bond and I asked him to show me something from Shall We Dance.
So he did that impromptu act on stage and went down on his knees as shown in the film. The next thing I know, people are burning effigies of him! He was just trying to entertain everyone.
It's upset the moral brigade…
Isn't it also a part of our culture to respect our guests? Atithi deva bhava? If a foreigner comes to our country, in stead of respecting the work he's doing, if we start burning his effigies we will only look foolish.
I request everyone to please take note of the huge body of work, time and money he has put into our country for the cause and awareness of HIV/Aids.
Richard can't communicate in Hindi, so he came with an interpreter and also told Parmeshwar Godrej to translate.
He's been working for our country for the last nine years. Next time, a foreigner will have second thoughts before doing something for us.
Tell us about the event.
It was a forum for truck drivers at the Sanjay Gandhi Stadium in Delhi. Richard met the head of the Truck Drivers Association as truck drivers are the main victims of HIV/Aids.
He explained to them not to indulge in unsafe sex and also why it is important to wear condoms. Truck drivers go on long trips and often indulge in casual and unprotected sex, so they are the most common victims of the disease.
Did you talk to Gere about 'the kiss' after the event?
No. He has already left for Kathmandu (Nepal). After the event got over, we chatted briefly but not about the kiss and it's fallout. He's a wonderful man.
I am not saying this because he's a huge celebrity and has asked me to join his organisation. I know the kind of work he has been doing for HIV/Aids awareness and we don't want it to stop. I have been a part of the Heroes Project for nearly four years.
Has Gere apologised?
I think he will. I spoke to Parmeshwar (Godrej) yesterday and Gere has sent her a note saying he didn't mean to hurt anyone. I feel bad for him. Let's react to more important issues and not blow things out of proportion.
Do you remember the furore that was created when Padmini Kolhapure kissed Prince Charles and Shabana Azmi kissed Nelson Mandela?
Yes, but Richard kissed me on the cheek and not on the lips. Some TV channels are comparing my incident to the Rakhi Sawant-Mika kiss.
It's ridiculous! It's not as if Richard took off my saree pallu or something. The crowd didn't react negatively. They were cheering and excited.
Would you apologise if you were asked to?
Why should I? I haven't done anything wrong.
Did you expect the backlash or did it take you by surprise?
Nothing takes me by surprise any more. It's my humble request to everyone — be responsible. Why are some people hell-bent on making us look foolish? What are we trying to tell people?
We are living in a democracy. Let's not misuse the freedom of expression. In any case, I think most women were jealous of Richard's actions towards me (laughs). It's every woman's dream come true!
How did your parents react to Gere's actions?
They didn't react but they are worried about people burning effigies. In fact, they thought it was being blown out of proportion.
I was shooting yesterday and people constantly badgered me about it. I wouldn't have reacted but I decided to because I don't want anything to come in the way of the cause that we have set out to work for.
https://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/april/155584.htm
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