Shilpa Shetty and Richard Gere

Gere kiss charges dropped for Shilpa

Updated 11.02 Wed May 16 2007

Shilpa Shetty will not face legal action over a public kiss from Hollywood actor Richard Gere at a charity event last month.

The pair caused controversy in India when Pretty Woman star Richard openly planted kisses on Shilpa's cheek at an Aids awareness event.

Shilpa attended the premiere of her new movie with fellow Big Brother housemate Danielle Lloyd earlier this week

Hindu nationalists were outraged after he twirled her in his arms, arched her over and kissed her several times.

However, it was Bollywood and Celebrity Big Brother star Shilpa who faced obscenity charges for not resisting the kiss.

But now India's Supreme Court has suspended all legal proceedings against her.

The 31-year-old's new film Life In A Metro premiered earlier this month and it sees the actress play a neglected housewife tempted by infidelity.

She said: "I think after a certain point in your career you want to really push the envelope and throw caution to the wind and I want to do something different."

She added: "I think it's a great opportunity, a great platform to see a different facet to Indian cinema."

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