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on 2007/4/17 3:40:42
Mumbai, April 17: Actor Shilpa Shetty hit back at her protestors, saying that people were overreacting on Richard Gere’s kiss. Shilpa said she was surprised at the way people were reacting to it. The actor said that there was nothing wrong with reacting to a particular issue but over reacting was very much uncalled for.
"It was done in good humour. We are actors, entertainers and I think Richard was only trying to entertain the audience," Shilpa said while defending the Hollywood star.
"This is his culture, not our's. I understand this," Shilpa said attacking those who described the act as an assault on India's ethos. “But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to over react in such a manner."
"Nobody is talking about the real issue. I think the only mistake was that it went slightly overboard," Shilpa said.
She completely defended Gere terming the kissing episode as an "impromptu act".
Explaining what lead Richard Gere to kiss her on the stage, she said the two were discussing about his recent film "Shall We Dance".
"I was telling him that he was really good in the film and we were joking about it. In an impromptu move, he did a dance step from the film with me, kissing me on my cheek, thanking me," Shilpa said.
"I was completely taken aback. My work was disrupted. The set was damaged. If protecting Indian culture and tradition means burning our effigies, please go ahead and do it. But our culture also teaches us "atithi devo bhava" (Guest is God). I feel people are overreacting. Don't misuse the freedom of expression in a democracy," Shilpa said.
"He was just trying to strike a dancing pose. In India entertainment means song and dance, so he was trying to do something entertaining. That's it. He didn't try to kiss me on my lips. He was just giving me a peck on my cheeks. I know it is a trivial issue. Somebody is trying to do something for your country and you are treating him so badly."
Shilpa, who has gained popularity in Britain after winning the British reality show "Big Brother", feels this kind of irresponsible behaviour will leave a bad impression on the British public.
"I don't understand why are we making an idiot of ourselves by blowing it up. We will look like an idiot on British media. Whatever has happened is wrong," the actor said.
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