HOLLYWOOD star Richard Gere, ordered arrested by an Indian court for kissing Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, offered a "sincere apology" today for any offence he caused.
Gere's statement came a day after the court issued an arrest warrant against him for ldquo;obscene rdquo; behaviour for embracing Shetty and planting several kisses on her cheeks during an AIDS awareness event in New Delhi earlier this month.
ldquo;What is most important to me is that my intentions as an HIV/AIDS advocate be made clear and that my friends in India understand that it has never been nor could it ever be, my intention to offend you, rdquo; Gere said.

ldquo;If that has happened, of course it is easy for me to offer a sincere apology, rdquo; the actor, who is back in the US said.
The incident triggered a public storm in India, known for its chaste public behaviour despite Bollywood's sexually suggestive song-and-dance routines.
Radical Hindus burned effigies of the 57-year-old Gere in India's entertainment hub of Mumbai and organised street rallies in New Delhi.

In his statement addressed to ldquo;My dear Indian friends, rdquo; Gere said: ldquo;To be honest, this recent media storm has taken me by surprise. rdquo;
ldquo;What we thought was a very successful HIV/AIDS event has taken a sad turn.
ldquo;The evening and event in question was intended to celebrate courageous people and partnerships in the supremely important fight against HIV/AIDS, a worldwide pandemic which has afflicted over five million Indians and is still increasing.

rdquo;
The warrant for Gere and a summons for Shetty were issued in the Rajasthan state capital of Jaipur yesterday following a public interest plea filed last week by lawyer Poonam Chand Bhandari, who accused the pair of obscenity.