Richard Gere has provoked a huge row in India after he kissed Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty in public. The actor was in New Delhi to participate in an AIDS charity event, and kissed local star Shilpa on the cheek in front of a large audience. People complained Gere had insulted Indian culture and traditions by holding a woman's face in his hands because such displays of affection are provocative. Shetty later defended Gere during a press conference, saying, "It was not so obscene. I understand people's sentiments, but I don't want a foreigner to take bad memories from here. I understand this is his culture, not ours." | 
