Hollywood star Richard Gere kisses the hand of the Dalai Lama at event in India

Richard Gere was among thousands of Buddhist followers on Sunday as the Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday in India. The Hollywood star, 75, best known for his starring roles in An Officer And A Gentleman and Pretty Woman, had previously taken to the podium, where he declared it a 'joyous, joyous day' to 'celebrate this extraordinary life'. Gere has been a regular visitor to Dharamshala for decades and is a staunch advocate of the Tibetan Independence Movement, a non-profit organisation that supports the independence of Tibet from the People's Republic Of China.