An Indian Supreme Court has suspended legal proceedings against Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and Hollywood actor Richard Gere over a public kiss he gave her at a charity event.

They both face charges after Gere leaned over Shetty and kissed her at an event in March to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

A warrant was issued for Gere's arrest and charges of obscenity laid against him in three different cities.

Shetty, who shot to fame in the West after she was subjected to racial taunts on British reality show Big Brother, was asked to appear to answer charges of not resisting the kiss.

The suspension means the arrest warrant against Gere and provisions preventing Shetty from travelling have been lifted until the Supreme Court rules on where the case should be heard.

The court was responding on Tuesday to a petition by Shetty to suspend proceedings and to transfer all the cases against her to Mumbai, where she lives.

Shetty's lawyer, Anand Grover, also called on the court to drop all proceedings, calling the case "frivolous" and "a total misuse of the legal process."

No further police action can be taken against either of the stars until the court makes its ruling on jurisdiction.

Gere has apologized for causing offence with the kiss. Public displays of affection are largely taboo in India, and Hindu hardliners held rallies against the actors in several cities.