Bollywood star held in US airport, fans outraged

[kuno_thunder]

MUMBAI – Indian Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan said he felt angry and humiliated after he was detained and questioned at a US 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 US consul official in India told a television channel they were inquiring into the matter.

As news of Khan's detention broke on Indian television channels, which have played up attacks in Australia on Indian students, fans and actors began posting angry comments on the Internet.

"Shocking, disturbing n downright disgraceful. It's such behavior that fuels hatred and racism. SRK's a world figure for God's sake. Get real!!," tweeted actor Priyanka Chopra.

Indian Information Minister Ambika Soni told a television station that while she could not say if Khan had been detained "on religious grounds, there have been too many instances like these in the U.S. concerning Indians."

Last month US-based carrier Continental Airlines apologized to former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for frisking him at New Delhi airport.
as of 08/16/2009 9:12 AM

c/o http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/


Srsly?  Like, this is a new thing to these people?  Do they think racism doesn't exist anymore?  Get real folks.  Racism is real.  Its not cool, but its very real.

[daigong]

Even the former president?! Fans should be outraged!

Wow, and I thought it was just me who visits airport security's lovely backrooms everytime I wanna fly

[Asmodai]

Uhuh. Lots of people get searched all the time at airports. Maybe being polite and cooperative instead of screaming about how security is racist when they try to do their jobs would be a better approach?

[Guchi_Jnr]

Srsly?  Like, this is a new thing to these people?  Do they think racism doesn't exist anymore?  Get real folks.  Racism is real.  Its not cool, but its very real.

And airport security staff are paid to be racist redneck retards.. 

[JFC]

SRK's a world figure for God's sake. Get real!!," tweeted actor Priyanka Chopra.

If that were true, then he would have been recognized at the airport and wouldn't have had a problem.

[Amplifier]

I've always flown to/from Newark when going abroad, and the security can be a bit frustrating there no doubt. That airport is right outside NYC, and one of the busiest in America, so it's not like the security there have never seen an Indian guy before. Given its location, the background of the workers is hugely mixed. He was probably just unlucky to be stopped, like a lot of people are. Even Miichan was, because of her age

[kuno_thunder]

Happens all the time! See?
http://www.humorscore.com/videos/Family_Guy_Videos/Family_Guy_-_Johnny_Quest