/> Though taken aback by Richard Gere's public display of affection at the AIDS event, Shilpa stoutly defends her mehmaan from Hollywood.

"I wish the electronic media wouldn't play the clip over and over again. It's annoying and serves no purpose. There're so many larger issues. In fact we were there to spread AIDS awareness among truckers. Richard has been doing this unconditionally. What does he have to gain from this? He keeps coming back to our country."

Shilpa explains what happened. "Earlier during the day during lunch we were teasing him about a dance step in Shall We Dance? When he suddenly bent me down on stage he was doing that whole step from Shall We Dance? I was as taken aback as the people who saw it. It was nothing but a joke and not pre-planned at all."

As for the moralists accusing her of unbecoming conduct Shilpa rises to her own defence. "It was just a kiss on my cheek! What's the big hue and cry about ?"

There was a hue and cry when many years ago Padmini Kolhapure had kissed Prince Charles. "That was on the lips. This was on the cheek, for crying out loud! No one can question me about my values. I agree a posture like that in public is against our culture. But doesn't our culture say that a guest is like God?

Was I supposed to snub Richard in a public place when what he was doing was just in fun. No! I think he's here for a great cause. I want to know what people who're burning Richard's effigy have done for our country. These kinds of controversies unnecessarily take away from the main issue. I can't believe this!"

Shilpa explains, "By unnecessarily highlighting it people are putting me off. Frankly I'm fed up of these controversies. Nothing shocks me any more. Honestly I didn't know what was happening. What happened with Richard wasn't my fault.

It was just meant to be fun. I don't think Richard intended to hurt anyone's sentiments. Richard is a Buddhist. He believes the Dalai Lama. He wears a tulsi mala. Why would he do anything to hurt our sentiments? Richard's intentions were not dubious.

People are burying effigies of Richard. Poor guy! For such a trivial issue. How will it look in the international press? For nine years he has been toiling for the cause of AIDS. Do we know how much money he has been raising for the cause?

It's sad people are being instigated against him. Look, if he kissed me on my lips I'd be offended. But he belongs to another cultural zone. Richard meant no harm. I'm no prude.

We were in the midst of 3,000 truckers somewhere outside Delhi who didn't understand English. Richard was just trying to entertain an unresponsive audience. "

Shilpa says she has formed a bond with her. "He wants me to be part of his AIDS foundation. He 's such a gentleman. He's incapable of indecent behaviour.I know indecent behaviour when I see it."