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For some Indians, Richard Gere’s awkward embrace with Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was not just offensive, it was criminal. NYU professor Tejaswini Ganti says the incident plays into the mixed messages about Indian women perpetuated by Bollywood.
Bollywood is the dominant form of entertainment, and sets the stage for how people in India dress, style their hair, and how they live. Bollywood is glamorous, but the women in India are very conservative with their values. Richard Gere didnt do anything wrong by smooching a beautiful women in a playful way, but he did offend the people of India. Women are looked upon as precious beautiful virginal creatures, and what he did made Shilpa Shetty look bad.
The two actors coul have been arrested for what haooened, even though this actress is a provactive women, and has kisses men in movies before. we just have to be more respectful of other cultures and their values.
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