Shah Rukh Khan Detained At US Airport Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood superstar, was detained at Newark airport for security check-up by US officials and was released only after Indian diplomats intervened. Shah Rukh Khan was detained for questioning by the US officials even after telling them that he is a movie star. It is yet another case of frisking of Indians by US authorities. Last month, Continental Airlines had frisked former Indian president Abdul Kalam at the New Delhi airport.

This incident has caused outrage across India and been widely reported in American media. This never happened to Schwarzenegger," noted New York Daily News reporting how "Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who plays a Muslim mistaken for a terrorist in his latest film, says he was racially profiled at Newark Airport and detained for two hours on Friday."

"The 43-year-old 'Tom Cruise of India' - cited last year by Newsweek as one of the world's 50 most influential men - was released only after Indian diplomats intervened," it said describing him "as the international box office sensation" who has appeared in more than 70 films.

It took note of US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer's statement that "Shah Rukh Khan, the actor and global icon, is a very welcome guest in the United States," Roemer said Saturday. "Many Americans love his films."

"But there were no Bollywood buffs in Newark as Khan came through the airport on his way to Chicago for a celebration of India's independence day" it noted. "I told them I am a movie star," Khan said - although the line fell on deaf ears.

The Washington Post in a report from New Delhi said "One of India's biggest movie stars said he was detained and questioned ... causing outrage across his home country and reigniting discussion of the hardships many Indians say they face while travelling abroad.

The Post also noted the incident followed another recent example of an Indian coming under suspicion for what talk show pundits here call "flying while brown." Last month, Continental Airlines apologised to former Indian president Abdul Kalam for frisking him at the New Delhi airport.