Do Gere and Shilpa deserve the flak?
By:
Raymond
Ronamai
Tuesday,
April
17,
2007
It
looks
like
Bollywood
starlet
Shilpa
Shetty
is
akin
to
controversy.
She
hit
the
headlines
recently
by
winning
the
British
reality
TV
show
'Big
Brother'.
In
fact,
the
racist
comments
that
one
of
the
contestants
made
against
her
during
the
show
shocked
the
world
like
never
before.
This
time,
it
is
the
'Big
Kiss'
that
has
given
her
unwanted
attention.
Hollywood
actor
Richard
Gere
hugged
and
kissed
her
at
a
function
that
was
meant
to
spread
awareness
on
AIDS
amongst
the
trucking
community
in
the
country.
However,
the
gesture
has
not
gone
down
too
well
with
the
Indian
audience.
Now,
people
from
various
quarters
of
the
country
have
come
out
in
the
open
condemning
the
act
as
an
attack
on
Indian
culture.
Gere and Shetty took part in an AIDS awareness programme called 'Seena Taan Ke' organised by the Truckers Corporation of India Foundation. The programme was to bring about awareness on AIDS amongst the truck drivers, who are the most vulnerable to the disease. As if to drive the point straight home that it doesn't spread through hugging and kissing, Gere hugged and planted several kisses on Shilpa Shetty's cheek at the function. But this 'kiss and tell' act has welcomed the wrath of the moral police. People from various parts of the country are protesting the act by burning the effigies of the actors. Political big wigs too have joined the furor by condemning the act. Prakash Javadekar, BJP spokesperson said that such a public display is not part of Indian culture.
Moreover, one must not forget that he is from a different country with a completely different culture and he is here working for a cause. Shilpa too is not alien to western culture, having lots of exposure from her film and other assignments. So, when celebrities with similar background meet, chemistry is bound to click. Also they are in a profession where kissing is the order of the day and even mouth-to-mouth kissing has made its way into Indian cinema. So, people should understand the aura they are in, and overreaction could do more harm than good. Gere is no doubt a big actor and a good human being. He deserves better treatment for the selfless works he has done for the country.
Recent
Stories
When
would
the
mother
get
the
due?
Lavish
mega-star
song
for
Om
Shanti
Om