Pointing out stories you may have missed. An Indian court has issued an arrest warrant for Hollywood actor Richard Gere after he kissed Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in public. 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.News source: BBC.
19 comments:
I'd trade court any day of the week, in exchange for a peck from Richard Gere (sigh).. in my flatshare at the time, us four girlies were glued to the screen watching him with Rachel whatshername in the Thornbirds, or what-ever-it-was-called, we all swooned in relief, when he forsook the cloth over her.. Ahhh, glory days.
Yes, Shilpa has been issued a summon to appear in the court & Gere got a warrant not to leave India.
I don't know what the lawyer or others want to achieve. Sometimes I wonder whether they have some other work or not.
Hi Carol,
Hang on, my friend. It wasn't Richard Gere in The Thornbirds - wasn't it the urbane Richard Chamberlain?
But yes, I can just see you on the arm of some craggy-jawed Oscar winner.
Then again, I've seen the fan mail you get every day from Tom Cruise and the real Richard Gere.
Good life you lead, you swooner!
David
Hi Cuckoo,
It sounds like the kerfuffle about Liz Hurley's wedding all over again. You've hit the nail on the head. The publicity gravy train is a powerful carrot for some people.
David
And everyone thought that we guys here in India dont have much work. We find ways to keep ourselves (and others) busy. People filing these cases should really be slapped. I was reading in the paper this morning that the Delhi High Court slapped a fine of Rs200,000 on someone for filing a non descript PIL (cant remember what it was) and wasting the court's time. Thats what this lawyer deserves as well. These case filing crazy people are, what you call in Aussie land, Bloody Idiots
Sorry the above message was from me, Siddharth. Forgot to write my name. See these people are making me lose my mind
I find it amazing just how much cultures differ. That is one of the reasons why I want to travel the entire planet, to expereince all these cultural differences. Remind me not to kiss my boyfreind, though! :)
Richard Gere in the Thornbirds????
That wasn't Richard Gere!
Richard Gere is the one with squitty eyes. You know, that one who look permanently constipated.
"when he forsook the cloth "
- does this mean taking his pants off??? ("debriefing"???)
:@}
You'll laways find some Taliban-type crazies who protest in a billion strong country. But the court action shames me as an Indian. I'm surprised no news organization reported on this aspect:
This wretched judge who issued the warrant and heard the case is in Rajasthan - and the incident occurred in Delhi which is outside his jurisdiction. I'm guessing he swung it on the ground that it appeared on Rajasthan TV or something. This means that of the thousands of judges you need just one publicity hungry or bigoted crackpot to tarnish India's image and initiate celebrity witch-hunts.
Apart from seeing higher courts intervene and take this judge to task I think the lawmakers should enact legislation that restricts jurisdiction to prevent this kind of judicial abuse.
-Sandip
PS: Here's a news report that (unlike most I saw) mentioned the venue:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1615381,00.html
No one is mentioning that when in Rome, Gere should have done as the Indians do - or rather, as Indian society would have preferred.
I have nothing against filmmakers (of the right sort!!! whatever I mean by that) but for goodness sake, have some class. 1) Not EVERYONE thinks its worth going to jail for the likes of him but more importantly, how crass of him, to 'comport' himself in such a manner in the Indian subcontinent! Doesn't he realize that not everyone who watches TV in India lives in Bollywood...or have the same exposure, rightly or wrongly. He must be (the worse sort of) American...ooh, I'm showing my stripes!
Thanks for highlighting this Dave, I checked to see if you would!!!!
Carol M. (USA)
Some well intentioned folks think that Richard Gere acted crassly in a way that went totally against Indian sensibilities and norms. Well, not quite. Bollywood movies have long had scenes that go beyond what Gere did, and with a lot more crudity. More recently Indian movies have also been carrying scenes with kissing on the lips.
My parents right here beside me are watching such a scene on our Indian TV channel right now. Even they're calling the Rajasthan court actions and the Gere controversy ridiculous...
Hi Siddharth,
I hear you loud and clear. It was a wise man who said the law (sometimes) is an ass.
David
Hi chele76,
Precisely. Okay, so I'd better cross that chore off my ``to-do'' list.
No puckering up.
Cheers
David
Hi BTBear,
Dear me. ``Squitty eyes?'' You run the risk of many Gere fans storming the bastions at your castle.
Nice turn of phrase.
David
Hi Sandip,
Aye, cap'n, I reported that he was in Jaipur! Yes, I see where you're coming from.
Was his behaviour bordering on harassment? No.
Case dismissed.
David
Hi Carol,
The footage of the incident made the news here - a few hours after I highlighted the story.
It's got many similarities with the Liz Hurley boilover, hasn't it.
Hope you and Neil are going to watch the World Cup final.
Take care
David
Hi Sandip,
Thanks you for that message. I'm very interested in your parents' viewpoint.
Does this sort of legal action enhance the image of India as a 21st century economic powerhouse? Does it make people snicker?
My answers are:
No
and Yes.
So I share your parents' view.
Say hi to them and to Anita for me.
Cheers
David
Well what can you expect from a ditsy blonde?? (It's genetic.) And who the hell told you about - ah, well, best not to kiss and tell..
Hi Carol,
I'm a journalist - I kinda know these things!
David
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