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India reacted with outrage today after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said he was detained for questioning at a US airport, though immigration officials denied he was formally held.
Fellow Indian film stars and political leaders condemned what they called "humiliating" treatment given to Khan, a Muslim who is well-loved in a largely Hindu country. One cabinet minister suggested a "tit-for-tat" policy towards Americans travelling to India.
Khan said he was detained on Friday by US immigration officials at Newark Liberty International airport in New Jersey because his name came up on a computer alert list.
The actor is in the US to promote a new film, My Name is Khan, which is about racial profiling of Muslims after the September 11 2001 attacks.
The story was front-page news in India, where the ability to avoid being frisked at airports is seen as a status symbol. Politicians, sports celebrities and film stars often claim VIP status to avoid security checks.
"My name is Khan? Too bad. SRK (Shah Rukh Khan) feels the heat of American paranoia" said the Times of India, quoting Khan as saying he felt "angry and humiliated".
Khan later played down the incident. "I think it's a procedure that needs to be followed, but an unfortunate procedure," he told reporters yesterday in suburban Chicago.
US customs officials told the Associated Press that Khan was questioned as part of a routine process that took 66 minutes. Spokesman Elmer Camacho said Khan was not detained, "but it took a little longer because his bag was lost by the airline".
Enraged fans today, however, planned to protest against the incident with a demonstration near India's parliament.
"Shocking, disturbing downright disgraceful. It's such behaviour that fuels hatred and racism. SRK's a world figure for God's sake. Get real!" actor Priyanka Chopra said on her Twitter feed.
The federal information minister, Ambika Soni, angrily suggested that India adopt a similar policy towards Americans travelling to India.
In New Delhi, the US ambassador, Timothy Roemer, said the US embassy was trying to "ascertain the facts of the case to understand what took place".
Khan, 44, has acted in more than 70 films, and has consistently topped popularity rankings in India for several years
Sad thing is that while others were cleared immediately,but SRK was detained (It's not happening for the first time with him...he was calm before but this time he was very very upset as resources says because of his name..Such discrimination not acceptable either
==========================2nd Article below==================================
Hindu nationalists held after protests at 'pro-Pakistani' Bollywood starShiv Sena vows to disrupt opening of My Name is Khan after actor Shahrukh Khan's support for Pakistani cricketers in Indian league
Share 26 reddit this Jason Burke in New Delhi
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 February 2010 16.37 GMT Article history
Indian policemen by a poster of the film My Name is Khan in Mumbai, India. Photograph: EPA
Its plot is a classic love story, set in the US after the 11 September 2001 attacks. And though a mainstream Bollywood production it explores such gritty themes as life for Indians overseas, Islam, terrorism, disability and prejudice. The lead actors, though unknown to most western audiences, are megastars for hundreds of millions globally.
My Name Is Khan Production year: 2010 Countries: India, Rest of the world Cert (UK): 12A Runtime: 161 mins Directors: Karan Johar Cast: Benny Nieves, Christopher B Duncan, Jimmy Shergill, Kajol, Katie Keane, Kenton Duty, Shah Rukh Khan More on this film My Name is Khan, which critics say looks set to become one of the most successful Indian films ever made, is scheduled to premiere tonight in Abu Dhabi and friday. Ahead of its release the plot-lines have been carefully leaked, trailers have been pirated and the film's two main stars, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol Devgan, have embarked on a global promotion tour. But even greater publicity has been generated by a homegrown controversy in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai.
Today police in the city arrested more than 1,600 activists reportedly from the hardline Hindu nationalist party Shiv Sena, which has vowed to disrupt the launch of the movie after Khan allegedly made "pro-Pakistani statements".
The row followed the star's recent criticism of cricket teams playing in next month's Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament for failing to hire players from neighbouring Pakistan as they are allowed to do. His comments provoked street protests earlier this week by Shiv Sena activists who tried to force cinemas in Mumbai the home of the Indian film industry and one of its biggest markets to refuse advance bookings for the film. More than 50 people were arrested in widespread disturbances.
"We have nothing against Shah Rukh Khan as a person but he has to retract his statement," said Mohan Rawale, a veteran Shiv Sena politician. "He is Indian and should be protecting our India and our Indian players, not talking about Pakistan, which has attacked us and caused terrorism in our city and in our country and caused deaths and injuries for which families and children are still weeping."
The film tells the story of Rizwan, an autistic boy born in the Muslim community of Mumbai who is taught that people can be divided into "good and bad" but that the good always win in the end. After migrating to America he falls in love with an Indian-born Hindu single mother living in San Francisco, and marries her despite family opposition. Days after the 9/11 attacks, Rizwan is detained at Los Angeles airport. He then sets out on a long journey to clear his name. Karan Johar, the director, has described Khan's on-screen role as similar to that of the autistic character played by Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man.
India reacted with outrage today after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said he was detained for questioning at a US airport, though immigration officials denied he was formally held.
Fellow Indian film stars and political leaders condemned what they called "humiliating" treatment given to Khan, a Muslim who is well-loved in a largely Hindu country. One cabinet minister suggested a "tit-for-tat" policy towards Americans travelling to India.
Khan said he was detained on Friday by US immigration officials at Newark Liberty International airport in New Jersey because his name came up on a computer alert list.
The actor is in the US to promote a new film, My Name is Khan, which is about racial profiling of Muslims after the September 11 2001 attacks.
The story was front-page news in India, where the ability to avoid being frisked at airports is seen as a status symbol. Politicians, sports celebrities and film stars often claim VIP status to avoid security checks.
"My name is Khan? Too bad. SRK (Shah Rukh Khan) feels the heat of American paranoia" said the Times of India, quoting Khan as saying he felt "angry and humiliated".
Khan later played down the incident. "I think it's a procedure that needs to be followed, but an unfortunate procedure," he told reporters yesterday in suburban Chicago.
US customs officials told the Associated Press that Khan was questioned as part of a routine process that took 66 minutes. Spokesman Elmer Camacho said Khan was not detained, "but it took a little longer because his bag was lost by the airline".
Enraged fans today, however, planned to protest against the incident with a demonstration near India's parliament.
"Shocking, disturbing downright disgraceful. It's such behaviour that fuels hatred and racism. SRK's a world figure for God's sake. Get real!" actor Priyanka Chopra said on her Twitter feed.
The federal information minister, Ambika Soni, angrily suggested that India adopt a similar policy towards Americans travelling to India.
In New Delhi, the US ambassador, Timothy Roemer, said the US embassy was trying to "ascertain the facts of the case to understand what took place".
Khan, 44, has acted in more than 70 films, and has consistently topped popularity rankings in India for several years
Sad thing is that while others were cleared immediately,but SRK was detained (It's not happening for the first time with him...he was calm before but this time he was very very upset as resources says because of his name..Such discrimination not acceptable either
==========================2nd Article below==================================
Hindu nationalists held after protests at 'pro-Pakistani' Bollywood starShiv Sena vows to disrupt opening of My Name is Khan after actor Shahrukh Khan's support for Pakistani cricketers in Indian league
Share 26 reddit this Jason Burke in New Delhi
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 February 2010 16.37 GMT Article history
Indian policemen by a poster of the film My Name is Khan in Mumbai, India. Photograph: EPA
Its plot is a classic love story, set in the US after the 11 September 2001 attacks. And though a mainstream Bollywood production it explores such gritty themes as life for Indians overseas, Islam, terrorism, disability and prejudice. The lead actors, though unknown to most western audiences, are megastars for hundreds of millions globally.
My Name Is Khan Production year: 2010 Countries: India, Rest of the world Cert (UK): 12A Runtime: 161 mins Directors: Karan Johar Cast: Benny Nieves, Christopher B Duncan, Jimmy Shergill, Kajol, Katie Keane, Kenton Duty, Shah Rukh Khan More on this film My Name is Khan, which critics say looks set to become one of the most successful Indian films ever made, is scheduled to premiere tonight in Abu Dhabi and friday. Ahead of its release the plot-lines have been carefully leaked, trailers have been pirated and the film's two main stars, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol Devgan, have embarked on a global promotion tour. But even greater publicity has been generated by a homegrown controversy in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai.
Today police in the city arrested more than 1,600 activists reportedly from the hardline Hindu nationalist party Shiv Sena, which has vowed to disrupt the launch of the movie after Khan allegedly made "pro-Pakistani statements".
The row followed the star's recent criticism of cricket teams playing in next month's Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament for failing to hire players from neighbouring Pakistan as they are allowed to do. His comments provoked street protests earlier this week by Shiv Sena activists who tried to force cinemas in Mumbai the home of the Indian film industry and one of its biggest markets to refuse advance bookings for the film. More than 50 people were arrested in widespread disturbances.
"We have nothing against Shah Rukh Khan as a person but he has to retract his statement," said Mohan Rawale, a veteran Shiv Sena politician. "He is Indian and should be protecting our India and our Indian players, not talking about Pakistan, which has attacked us and caused terrorism in our city and in our country and caused deaths and injuries for which families and children are still weeping."
The film tells the story of Rizwan, an autistic boy born in the Muslim community of Mumbai who is taught that people can be divided into "good and bad" but that the good always win in the end. After migrating to America he falls in love with an Indian-born Hindu single mother living in San Francisco, and marries her despite family opposition. Days after the 9/11 attacks, Rizwan is detained at Los Angeles airport. He then sets out on a long journey to clear his name. Karan Johar, the director, has described Khan's on-screen role as similar to that of the autistic character played by Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man.
