American customs officials sparked a diplomatic incident by detaining the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at a New Jersey airport.
Khan, who is known as the ?King of Bollywood? and is one of the most popular celebrities in India, told an Indian television station that he had been held for two hours at Newark Liberty International Airport after his name appeared on a security alert.
The star lashed out at US airport officials, who are frequently accused by human rights groups of profiling Muslims, claiming that he was singled out because of his last name.
Ironically, Khan is in the US to promote his new film about racial profiling, My Name is Khan, about an Indian Muslim setting out on a journey across America after being mistaken for a terrorist in post-9/11 America. The film is set for release in early 2010.
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The revelation caused an outcry in his homeland where it was broadcast at the top of the television news bulletins and caused frenzied debate on various Twitter threads.
Khan, 43, told the Press Trust of India news agency that he was detained because his name came up on a computer alert list at Newark Airport.
?I told them I am a movie star,? Khan told the Press Trust of his reaction to being detained.
It was reported that he was only released after an official at the Indian embassy in Washington was able to vouch for the Indian star.
Khan said that he did not want an apology from the US government, adding: ?I think it's a procedure that needs to be followed, but an unfortunate procedure.?
US officials confirmed yesterday they had questioned the actor, but played down the incident as a normal inquiry for anyone requesting admission into America.
Kevin Corsaro, a spokesman for United States Customs and Border Protection, said that Khan's situation had became more complicated after the airline, which he did not identify, lost the star's luggage.
He declined to provide specific details of the incident, but said the inspection lasted "a little more than an hour."
"Generally speaking, travellers applying for admission into the United States are subject to inspection," the agency said in a statement. "The inspection process may include a more in-depth interview and baggage examination."
Mr Corsaro said the additional verification can take place when an individual travelling on a tourist visa attempts to enter the United States to work.
In New Delhi, the US Ambassador to India, Timothy J Roemer, said the embassy was trying to ?ascertain the facts of the case ? to understand what took place?.
?Shah Rukh Khan, the actor and global icon, is a very welcome guest in the United States. Many Americans love his films,? Mr Roemer said yesterday.
The Khan incident occurred just weeks after uproar erupted in India when the former Indian president Abdul Kalam, also a Muslim, was frisked by personnel of US carrier Continental Airlines in New Delhi before boarding a US-bound flight.
Kalam was searched despite protocol rules at Indian airports exempting certain dignitaries from security checks. The airline later apologized.
Khan has acted in more than 70 films, and has consistently topped popularity rankings in India for the past several years. He was named last year as one of the world's 50 most influential men by Newsweek magazine.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/bollywood/article6797998.ece
Topic: Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan questioned by US customs officials