Shilpa Shetty poses for a picture during the song preview of the upcoming movie "Hungama 2", in Mumbai on June 19, 2021.

Shilpa Shetty is cleared of obscenity charges 15 years after Richard Gere kissed her on the cheek

Radical Hindu groups labeled the situation as an insult to Indian values

Senior Writer

JANUARY 28, 2022 9:34 AM ESTJAN 28, 2022, 9:34 AM EST

Fifteen years Bollywood’s Shilpa Shetty had to wait to be cleared from obscenity charges after actor Richard Gere kissed her on the cheek in 2007 at an Aids awareness event in India.

A court in the country ruled the mindblowing charges as “groundless” because she was the victim, despite radical Hindu groups labeling the situation as an insult to Indian values.

(FILES) In this file picture taken 15 Ma — In this file picture taken 15 March 2007, US actor Richard Gere (L) holds Indian actress Shilpa Shetty (R) in a sweeping embrace during and event for HIV AIDS awareness in New Delhi. India‘s Supreme Court suspended legal action against Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty on, 15 May 2007, over enthusiastic kisses bestowed on her by Hollywood heart throb Richard Gere.

The act sparked controversy nationwide, and Gere apologized by saying he wanted to show that kissing and hugging were safe and not linked to the transmission of HIV. The court also dismissed the arrest warrant against the actor; however, Shetty’s case took longer.

In this file picture taken, 13 March, 2007, US actor and chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Campaign for Tibet, Richard Gere gives testimony to the US House Foreign Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Hollywood star Richard Gere has been accused of obscenity for kissing Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty in court complaints filed in India on, 18 April 2007, according to a news report.

Shetty’s legal team said the star received unfair treatment, especially not being the “perpetrator.” Shetty’s lawyer said the case was based on the fact that “she did not protest when she was kissed by the co-accused,” as reported by The Guardian. “This by no stretch of imagination makes her a conspirator or perpetrator of any crime,” the lawyer added.