In eerie echoes of his role in the movie My Name is Khan, Shah Rukh Khan was today detained in Newark, New Jersey for two hours apparently because his name is Khan - a name on the alert list at US airports.
SRK was in the US to celebrate Independence Day. He was released after Indian Embassy officials vouched for him. "The US has developed religious paranoia over the years," Shah Rukh commented, "My guard was also denied a visa because he has the same last name as mine. They said I could't use my phone." He went on to say his hand luggage was searched and he was grilled by a US immigration official, even though he attempted to reassure him that he was there at the invitation of the South Asian community.
His close friend Karan Johar said, "I'm shocked and upset...feeling terrible for Shah Rukh. Initial media reports said that he was 'arrested', it was awful. There's a sense of humiliation and embarrassment. I mean being who he is, I don't understand why he had to go through something like this."
Twitter addict Priyanka Chopra was also quick to leap to his defence. "Shocking, disturbing and downright disgraceful. It's such behaviour that fuels hatred and racism. SRK`s a world figure for God's sake. GET REAL!!" she exploded.
India's former ambassador to the US, Naresh Chandra said, "The authorities should have taken maximum 10-15 minutes for questioning Shahrukh, but it took two hours. It is great incompetence and has lowered the image of (US) Homeland Security".
Other Indian actors who have been victims of crude racial profiling in the past in the US have included Irrfan Khan, Aamir Khan - who had to endure a strip-search in Chicago, Neil Nitin Mukesh, whilst on his way to film New York, and even superstar Mammootty.
well this is a fact that if any one treat himself as a king then allah will obvisouly show him something like with sharukh khan . Mr sharukh kham being a muslim wont u feel shame to call ur self king so if u were a king so why you didn't anything against those ordinary people who locked u up for couple of hours so believe it that there is one lord and no one else could resemble him
This is the most stupid thing i have ever heard.I cant beleive these film personalities are making a big issue out of this just because he is so called super star in Bollywood that doesnot mean that every person on this earth should know him.If he was not allowed to use cell phone, thats the protocol used by immigration officers in USA.For your kind information there were fews Khan's involved in the 9/11 attack.So obviously the name is on the alert list and so what if they detained them.Big deal.Hey Bollywood stars....dont think if you are big with money and fame in India you are treated like prince and princess over there...dont expect the same from other country people. This doenot only happens to celebrities only but to others if US immigration thinks its of concern.So why treat film people and the rest of them differently.I appreciate what US Immigration did and salute them for their dutiful act.The US Immigration officers are trying to protect their country, which is what every country people would do for their country.Shah Rukh Khan, other Khans and the politicians should grow up in India.Always think cheap and dont think from others point of view.
@Priya: America is NOT the one that needs to do the growing up. It's India and its egoistical stars. Why hasn't something relatively equivalent of 9/11 happened in America? Because America takes precautions to ensure that their citizens aren't killed. This is MUCH, MUCH more that can be said for India.
America only gives VIP treatment to the President, former Presidents and cabinet minister. Since SRK isn't any one of them, he's gets to be treated like the common man. Unlike India, America does not give elite treatment to its celebrities - a rapist like Mike Tyson is treated with the same amount of scorn as another "common" rapist.
There shouldn't be any sort of compromise when the matter of national security is at stake. Racial profiling happens - but it's not just to Muslims. Several people of Asian decent, African diaspora and many others have also been subjected to inspections. It's a necessary precaution that ensures the safety of the citizens.
Seriously, Priyanka and Karan brought up the fact that since SRK is an actor and all, this shouldn't have happened to him. HELLO, it shouldn't have happened to anyone! Just because he's a muslim they detain him. Are you kidding? Americans, grow up.
its really shocking,how cn they treat a huge personality like this.Who in d world dont know SRK. I m really upset over d issue,some action must taken regarding this behavior towards SRK.
To be outraged as Priyanka Chopra was on her post is understandable, but remember most Americans don't have a clue who any of the Bollywood stars are. So to say SRK`s a world figure' is wasted in the US. Take away his celebrity and we see the real issue, a broken system put in place our of fear, and without thought.
«India's former ambassador to the US, Naresh Chandra said, "The authorities should have taken maximum 10-15 minutes for questioning Shahrukh, but it took two hours. It is great incompetence and has lowered the image of (US) Homeland Security".»
As if the officials of the Indian govt. should even be uttering a single word about the alleged "incompetence" of the DHS when they failed to take necessary precautions to ensure that innocent lives wouldn't be killed. Numerous attacks such as the Delhi blasts in '05, 26/11, Mumbai train attacks have occurred over the years. What has the govt. done to ensure something like that doesn't happen again? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. And until they stop warming their arses pushing papers while sitting on a leather chair, these attacks will continue. So in all honesty, instead of trying to find faults in the DHS - who continue to do their jobs to this day be it through racial profiling or strip search - the Indian govt. should take security precautions to ensure that there isn't a repeat of the various previous attacks. It is high time India drops the lethargic and apathetic persona it adopts when the country's citizens are killed.
As far as SRK and his cronies are concerned, so what? Happens to most of us. Build a bridge and get over it. Simply because DHS doesn't treat SRK like elite and treats him like a common man doesn't mean that the behaviour is "disgraceful" or "shock[ing]". Sure, India lets its celebrities go scot-free should they even kill someone -- but don't think for one minute that the laws of other countries will be bent to suit your ego's needs.
IMO, it's not the DHS that needs to get real, it's Priyanka who needs a thorough dose of reality. This sort of stuff happens EVERY day and not just to Muslims. I don't see Priyanka, KJO, Farah or SRK being upset at that.
It is publicity stunt!!i read the news where they said they make only 1 hrs talk with SRK and it was also because of his bagage was missing..Really,I never thought SRK will make this kind of cheap publicity….Because his upcoming movie is my name is khan,he wanna make publicity For tht since movie is shot on US.I used to hate him but from this incident,i hate him even more.ALL SRK fan will think another way but the truth is tht this is all publicity stunt
saale sab ke sab US Immigration wale.. Kuch bhi karenge.. Unke baap ka raaj he unki mother land me.. Obama ki checking honi chahiye jab woh india aaye to 9 ghante detain karo usko...
well this is a fact that if any one treat himself as a king then allah will obvisouly show him something like with sharukh khan .
Mr sharukh kham being a muslim wont u feel shame to call ur self king so if u were a king so why you didn't anything against those ordinary people who locked u up for couple of hours so believe it that there is one lord and no one else could resemble him