Shahrukh Khan is the king of Bollywood and is a global super star. The whole world knows him apparently except in Newark airport. Reports say Newark airport security detained him for a few hours and only released him after the Indian consulate intervened. King Khan and his fans are unsertandably very upset.
MUMBAI (Reuters) – Indian Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan said he felt angry and humiliated after he was detained and questioned at a U.S. airport, sparking an uproar in India among his fans.
Khan, 43, one of India’s best known actors, was enroute to Chicago for a parade to mark the Indian independence day on Saturday when he was pulled aside at Newark airport Friday, he said.
“I was really hassled perhaps because of my name being Khan. These guys just wouldn’t let me through,” he said in a text message to reporters in India.
After a couple of hours’ interrogation, he was allowed to make a call, he said, and he got in touch with the Indian consulate who vouched for him and secured his release.
“Absolutely uncalled for, I think. I felt angry and humiliated,” said Khan, who had just finished a month-long shoot in the United States for his upcoming film “My Name is Khan,” which is about a Muslim man’s experience with racial profiling.
A U.S. consul official in India told a television channel they were inquiring into the matter.
I am not sure how airport security can detain him for such a long time even after being made aware of who Shahrukh Khan is. Imagine Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise getting detained for few hours at an airport. Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam had a similar embarassing moment when he was frisked by contenental staffers desipte being told who he was. The fact that both of them were muslims probably has something to do with it. I understand that not everyone has global awareness and the ariport staff were trying to do their job but they need to be more respectful once they are made aware of who these people are.