Saturday, August 15, 2009

SHOWBIZ: Anger at US Bollywood detention


The Indian government has asked the United States to explain why a leading Bollywood film star was held for two hours at New York's Newark airport.

Shah Rukh Khan, who was released after India's embassy in the US intervened, said he felt angry and humiliated.

The actor, who is promoting a film on racial profiling, said he was stopped because he had a Muslim name.

In July, a US airline apologised to a former Indian president for frisking him before he boarded a flight.

The US ambassador to India, Timothy Roehmer, said the embassy was looking into Mr Khan's case.

Speaking in Delhi, Mr Roehmer said: "Shah Rukh Khan, the actor and global icon, is a very welcome guest in the United States. Many Americans love his films."

He said the embassy was trying to "ascertain the facts of the case - to understand what took place".

Popular celebrity

Mr Khan, 44, told the Press Trust of India news agency he had been detained by immigration officials at Newark airport because his name came up on a computer check list.

He told the agency that he had been released after he was allowed to message a politician in India, who contacted the Indian embassy in Washington on his behalf.

Mr Khan was on his way from New York to Chicago to attend an Indian independence day celebration when he was stopped.

The news was widely reported by Indian media outlets.

Mr Khan has appeared in more than 70 films and is considered one of India's most recognisable and popular celebrities.

Last month, America's Continental Airlines apologised to APJ Abdul Kalam amid outrage in India when it emerged that the former Indian president had been frisked and made to remove his shoes at Delhi airport in April.

The airline said in a statement that it had not intended to offend Mr Kalam or the sentiments of the people of India.

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