US news story CNN Shah Rukh Khan interview Texas August 2009

Aug 17, 2009 7:20 pm US/Eastern
Bollywood Star Treatment Raises Ire In US, Abroad

In sheer fan numbers, Shah Rukh Khan is one of the most recognizable movie stars in the world.

In nearly every country he travels to, Khan is given a red-carpet welcome and swarmed by thousands of adoring fans.

But the 44-year-old megastar of Bollywood wasn't recognized at Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday. He was detained by U.S. Immigration officials for more than an hour and held for questioning.

That treatment of the face of the Indian film industry, which churns out an estimated two films a day and generates billions of dollars in ticket sales each year, is reverberating in the U.S. and abroad.

In India on Sunday, angry fans burned a U.S. flag in protest and fellow Indian film stars and political leaders condemned what they called "humiliating" treatment of the star.

"It's ironic they picked on someone who is such a symbol of progressive values in India and would be considered so anywhere else in the world," said Wasim Khan — no relation — an Indian Muslim from Parsippany. "It should be a matter of concern for all of us who believe in a world of greater tolerance and peace and progressing toward a greater understanding among different peoples and cultures."

Although Hollywood earns more revenue and has more expensive productions, Bollywood dwarfs Hollywood in the number of movies it produces and the frenzy that surrounds its top stars.

And nobody generates more fervor than the man they call "King Khan."

A Muslim actor in a predominantly Hindu nation, Khan, who is married to a Hindu woman, is often referred to as the "world's biggest movie star."

In Bollywood, his appeal stretches far beyond India and deep into the Muslim world — from Indonesia to the Middle East.

His happy-go-lucky personality on and off camera, his reluctance to take sides in politically charged matters and his "can't we all just get along?" approach to deep divisions between Muslims and Hindus have made him a defacto ambassador for a global generation striving to overcome ancient hatreds.

Khan initially said his treatment by U.S. authorities left him "angry and humiliated" but later downplayed those comments and described the airport experience as "a procedure that needs to be followed, but an unfortunate procedure."

Khan told the Times of India on Monday that he didn't want an apology from the U.S. authorities, he just wanted to go home.

Ironically, Khan was in the U.S. to promote his new film, largely shot in California, about an Indian Muslim with Asperger's syndrome living in a post-911 America. His character's anti-social ticks and odd behavior are mistaken by U.S. authorities as suspicious and he's detained as a suspected terrorist.

U.S. immigration authorities have denied they stopped Khan because of his Muslim surname or that he was flagged on any computer alert lists. They say his questioning was routine and was only prolonged because his bag had been lost by the airline.

The explanation has done little to calm the anger of Khan's vast fan base, or the ire of Indian Muslims in the U.S., some of whom have been subjected to airport stops in the years following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Saeed Patel, 45, an Indian Muslim from Englewood Cliffs who is an American citizen and has three U.S.-born children, was detained last year returning home to Newark airport and is still upset at how he was treated. He is angry, however, that protesters in India are burning the American flag, saying America is much more tolerant of different religions than India.

Patel hopes the incident with Khan becomes a teachable moment for people to realize Muslims still face profiling.

"Obviously we are outraged," Patel said. "But in a way we are sort of glad it happened to him so it becomes something people talk about."

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[candygir7]

America has to offer nothing. I am in USA for 27 years and I hate it here. I did not know that USA was a fascist country. The government here they hide their true face and that is of an ugly beast. America are the terrorists and are behind the 9/11 attacks.

[MultiKingofworld]

HE RUles bollywood by his rules.LUV U KING

[DonCorleoneQ8]

He is a respectable guy !

if some other big shot were in his shoes, he would make it as painful as it could be to the authorities in the US.

[Nafstar4Ever]

How could one not know who Shahrukh Khan is? His appeared in over 70 films! &i hate how people are hating on him for making this film.

[bhapegandu]

AMERICA is the best country inthe world i am proud to be a American hindu i got alot better stuff i did not get in iindia so i wanna say that its all his fuckin publicity and his personel profit things cause no anyone did this shit like salman khan and alot muslim stars.its all bullshit and who did top commet why he still here in us go get back ur ass your country if u did not get somthing

[iseeyouf]

I think then we are BLIND. isn't it? i don't hope for a answer from

anyone thanks for reading.

[iseeyouf]

I ask everybody few questions

that why only Muslim are being deprived of their

rights , land , country, education , facilities ,

even their life's ? why Muslim doesn't even have

a TV News media to put forward their demands ,

needs etc? why They have no reservation in education

sector or for jobs? why in-spite of 15% population

share in India there is not even 1% Muslim graduates

in India? still if you need to know why some of Muslims

have accepted Terrorism (which is wrong)

[iseeyouf]

and today he (Shahrukh K.) himself is claiming is what being done to him was wrong.

Pali hill society head was saying people of every

caste sikh, chritian & Hindu live over there. why didnt they

mentioned muslims this is indicative that there are no muslims

in there society.

But still he is regretting that this world has already

passed a judgment against every Muslims that they are

Terrorist & nothing else.

[iseeyouf]

Sharukh Stop behaving like a politician we all

know your new movie was coming up (i.e. My name is Khan) and you are creating

a new free ad campaign for that by creating this controversy.

I think today Shahrukh Khan might have realized that

how even innocent Muslims are being treated through

out the world. ecently he was saying that Imraan Hashmi

is putting fake allegations on pali hill society

members of Bandra

[vardanology]

FUK EVERY SINGLE 1 OF YOU WHO HATES AMERICA AND CALLS US TERRORISTS.

You know why Americans don't like this actor????? because his madafakin NAME sound like Ku Klux Khan....madafakers.That's why.Now let me go back to kitchen and finish my madafakin sandwich with mayonnaise and cheese.

[stylepill]

@grandaddynative what a dumb asss you are =)) laughing at your own quotes =))) u think u r khewl n properjoker ?!! dontcha ?!! you scum bag .. lemme remind you ... you born from sperm from 5 or maybe more male those your mother slept together at the same time =)) thats y u have got a freak brain , a useless dickhead , who don even have the common sense to knw ppl dont laugh at their own jokes =)) oh yah dont forget to use some medicine as well to grow up and hold ur ejaculation :P

[grandaddynative]

lets talk about how crappy and dirty and disgustingly filthy gross ass india is.with all their sick as fuck animals walking around spreading everything imaginable.gross ass india is the birthplace of the (homeless hippie bum).thanx you dirty fucks,thanx a bunch for your contributions to the hygiene of america.go fuck yourselves with all your little no condom thats small enough noodle dicks.lolhahahahahahahahahahah­ahahahaha...u suck