Protesters in India were outraged when Hollywood actor Richard Gere repeatedly kissed popular Indian actress Shilpa Shetty at an AIDS awareness campaign in New Delhi, India. Calling the act as anti-Indian, leaders from many religious groups burned effigies of both the actors in various Indian cities, raised anti-Gere slogans and also demanded that Gere should apologize for his act.

Local television channels repeatedly showed footage of Gere sweeping the much elated Shetty backwards in an embrace after he starts planting kisses on the actress.

However, Shetty, who was recently in the news after winning the "Celebrity Big Brother" reality TV show in Britain this year, said, "If protecting Indian culture and tradition means burning our effigies, please go ahead and carry on with your protests. But, our culture also teaches us to imbibe 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (the guest is god)."

Defending the Hollywood actor's act, she added, "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."

She also called the matter "a trivial issue" and urged the protesters not to treat Gere badly as he is doing great work in India for AIDS awareness.

Admitting that the act was "wrong" the 31-year-old actress is quoted by IANS as saying, she didn't' understand all of the public outrage and worried how the reports would be seen throughout the world, "We will look like idiots in the British media."