Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who has acted in over 70 movies and is one of India’s most popular actors, was recently detained at Newark Airport, according to reports by Reuters and the Associated Press.  The actor had come to the US to celebrate Indian Independence Day and to promote his newest film, “My Name is Khan”, about racial profiling in the United States after 9/11.

According to the actor, he was detained in an interrogation room for two hours after his name came up on a security alert list.  US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) said that Mr. Khan was questioned, not detained, for 66 minutes as part of a routine security check.  Mr. Khan was kept waiting after the questioning process because the airline has misplaced his suitcase.

As a result, Indian nationals have expressed their outrage over Mr. Khan’s treatment in the United States.  Fans in Allahabad, India shouted anti-US slogans and burned an American flag.  Other Indian film stars publicly voiced their criticism of the US.  Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said that India should adopt a policy of interrogating all Americans traveling to India.  Other Indian officials have complained that there have been many incidents of Indian citizens being questioned at US airports. The US consulate in New Delhi, India stated that it is looking into the matter.

Mr. Khan was able to contact the Indian consulate in the US, who secured his release. 

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