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New Delhi, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s two-hour detention at Newark airport in the US over his surname had members of the Indian film industry fuming. Karan Johar was “shocked”, actress Priyanka said it was “downright disgraceful” and filmmaker Kabir Khan termed it “harassment”.
The 43-year-old actor was detained while he was on his way to Chicago to attend an event related to India’s Independence Day and was freed only after Indian diplomats intervened.
Here’s what King Khan’s friends and colleagues had to say:
Karan Johar: I am shocked and upset…feeling terrible for Shah Rukh.
Priyanka Chopra: Shocking, disturbing and downright disgraceful. It’s such behaviour that fuels hatred and racism. Shah Rukh Khan is a world figure for god’s sake. Get real!
Kabir Khan: When I heard this news, I was so surprised…it has almost become a routine. If you have a Muslim name you are bound to be questioned. It happened with me thrice in the US. I was stopped by immigration officials for three to five hours… they don’t care whether you are a celebrity or whoever.
But when it comes to Shah Rukh, it doesn’t take more than 20 seconds to figure out who he is�any search engine (on the Internet) will give more information on him than Hollywood stars Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt and despite that if it took them two hours to figure out, then its harassment.
Post 9/11 it is prejudice to have a person’s name and religion checked and it is very discouraging as well.
Pritish Nandy: This is the problem with law enforcers worldwide…Truly obnoxious. Cops don’t want to recognise anybody. They love to show their power and authority, especially in the US.
Kunal Kohli: It’s really disgusting. Even if they had done a Google search on their mobiles, they would have seen who he is. What were they checking for two hours on their super computers? To detain him for two hours is ridiculous, disgusting and an insult to us Indians.
Arindam Chaudhari: Shah Rukh has just finished his film “My Name Is Khan” in which his character tries to prove to the Americans that he is not a terrorist. I’m sure he never thought it would happen in real life too…What a shame! It’s shocking and shameful because I am sure Shah Rukh would have had to explain who he is.
It’s Shah Rukh so it’s become big news. But there many who constantly go through this everyday. It’s really sad.
Eesha Koppikhar: I am not sure of the exact events but if he was detained just because he is a Muslim with Khan as a last name, it is very wrong.
The security check is quite common in all countries. Whoever coming into The USA are subjected to all kind of security check because of the increasing Terror activities around the world. What happened with SRK is not a big issue, and people should understand it. The Home land security is doing its job with no discrimination of race or religion. Detained for 5 hours, 10 hours? No big deal! SRK should understand what the world is facing these days rather thinking like a low mentality person about discrimination and stuff. Celebrities make up things to become Headlines, and SRK was successful this time.
IF PEOPLE WANTS TO COME INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THEY BETTER LEAVE ALL THEIR PRIDE BACK HOME, BECAUSE AMERICA DOESN’T CARE WHO YOUR ARE.
Well spoken Pavan Kumar….you just taken the word off my mind…At least he is lucky was detained for 2 hours….Some top British and USA have been detained in USA,Canada over 5 hours at a time. So it does not matter at all. What the big deal. Many celebrities have been caught with foul stuff and money laundering. Well how was it felt then ?It hurts!! Shahrouk now you have the film lines make another film and make up for the time and pride lost. You may be some thing Khan is King at home but mealy just a normal issue here in the west. Hard luck Remember Allah is the Greatest. What goes up comes down .
Why is the detainment of SRK so shocking? Every individual should be treated equally…so, why should this person be given preferential treatment as a bollywood actor? A few Americans may know him, who otherwise care. Each country follow set of established laws including provisions that govern visitors entrance and privilege to their soil. We should be horrified if the Newark Airport staff had bypassed its gidelines because some individual is rich or a star. The incident is unacceptable if he was religiously profiled and detained but if this practice is consistent with all visitor, then SRK and his entourage need to get over it.
Oh Pavan, shutup. I was born here in the US and I assure you that those security people are mostly obnoxious idiots who DO RACIAL PROFILING. I know because I do not look Indian or middle eastern, many people in my family have been harassed at the airport just because of their names or features. The US has flaws just like every country out there, so get off your high horse and look at reality instead of blindly accepting what can and should be prevented. If Shahrukh was not named Khan, he would never have been detained. It is our duty and right to fight discrimination in any form.
This was a case of racial profiling otherwise why would it take 2 hours to clear Shah Ruhk Khan. For God sake he is a mega star. Which idiot in Newark Airport any indian or even immigration officer can search his name on google and compare his pasport to who he is. US needs to keep security but let’s be fair it should be equal-also for whites not colored skin whether it is indian or pakistaini,black etc. This is disgrace, bollywood should stop making any movies here and giving US any revenues. Let them go further in the hole. Shah Rukh, you deserve a national apology.
Mr Khan may be incredibly popular in India or elsewhere…but he is virtually unknown in the US.. And most Americans don’t speak or even understand Hindi..(other than Indian-Americans)…that’s not an insult – just my opinion…I do agree 2 hrs in detainment is unacceptable…whomever you are…New York City rec’vd a horrific attack on Sept 11.2001 and Americans aren’t going to let that happen again…Racial profiling at US airports is probably morally wrong but I think it’s a necessary & acceptable practice post 9-11 to protect the USA from another attack. I did watch some of Mr Khan vids on the internet…he certainly is a talented entertainer! Peace.