Gere kisses plunge Shilpa into row

CELEBRITY Big Brother star Shilpa Shetty has been swept up in controversy again — this time after being kissed by Richard Gere.

The furore erupted when Hollywood actor Gere, 57, held the Bollywood star, 31, in his arms and kissed her repeatedly on the cheeks as part of an AIDS-awareness event.

Now angry crowds in India, where public displays of affection are largely taboo, have begun burning effigies of the US star while chanting “Down with Shilpa Shetty”.