SRK on detention: It wasn't a drama news from daily THE TIMES OF INDIA

SRK on detention: It wasn't a drama AGENCIES 18 August 2009, 03:18pm IST Print Email Discuss Bookmark/Share Save Comment Text Size: | MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan on Tuesday clarified that his 'detention episode' at the US airport wasn't a drama that people are making Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan waves upon his arrival from the US at the Mumbai international airport. (Reuters) Related videos More Videos » out it to be. King Khan, as he is popularly called, returned from the US on Tuesday and briefed the media about his ordeal in the US. Khan, 43, said that he did not expect any special treatment because of his celebrity status but found his detention and questioning at the airport in New Jersey "strange and irrelevant". "I was asked bizarre questions by the airport officials. It wasn't a drama. I don't want publicity. But, I feel routine procedure was not followed there. We should not be treated on the basis of our colour or nationality," the actor said. Shahrukh Khan said he didn’t feel bad that airport authorities questioned him, but what really hurt him was the question they popped at him several times, “Your name is very common. Can anyone vouch for you to enter here?” According to PTI, the actor, who had gone to the US to participate in Independence Day functions in Houston and Chicago, said basic security procedures like finger print and retina scan were not followed while he was being questioned after his name popped up at the immigration counter. "I don't think it is a big deal and I don't think I need to be treated specially. I am nobody. I am sure that people go through worse," Khan said about the incident, which drew angry reaction from his fans, PTI reported. He also said he didn’t expect the issue to be blown up so much.”99 per cent of the times that I've been to US such checks have happened with me but at the security department. This is the first time that it has happened to me at the immigration department," Khan said. The actor said what happened to him was nothing compared to the treatment meted out to former President A P J Abdul Kalam at Delhi airport by staff of an American Airlines before his flight to the US. "What happened to Kalam was atrocious as he is a national leader. What happened with me is nothing in comparison to that," he said. He also rubbished the reports that he was trying to promote his upcoming movie 'My Name is Khan' by blowing his detention issue out of proportion. "I hate people who rake up religious issues for their personal gains. I don't want to sound pompous here but I think Shah Rukh Khan does not need publicity. I am too big a star for that. Those who say that I did all this to gain publicity for my film have a cheap mentality," SRK said. The actor, who had earlier told fans that he did feel like stepping again on American soil, said that he will visit the country if work required him to do so. "I will go to the US when work demands but I will limit my travels. I have no complaints against the system but I wish it could be more streamlined and less cumbersome," added Khan. Asked about information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni's suggestion that there should be a tit-for-tat policy, the actor, known for his tongue-in-cheek remarks, said, "I am being serious. If it is a tit-for-tat policy then I would like to frisk Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox whenever they are visiting India because it has happened to me." When questioned about Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh's allegations that Khan had blown the matter out of proportion, the actor said, "But Amar Singhji is ill. He is not in the country. I pray that he recovers soon with a healthy body and strong mind. What should I say on that." Commenting on Salman Khan's statement that "security checks were no big deal", Shah Rukh said, "What Salman said came from his own experience and he is right in his own way but it happened to me for the first time, so it was a little strange to me. May be I will get used to it." The actor said that he was overwhelmed by the support that he received after the incident. "I am overwhelmed by the support that has come for me and it indicates that these problems are happening around the world," Khan said.
Related Articles S Asian or Indian: Larger identity behind SRK's flap? US 'overdid' SRK's questioning: Chidambaram Blog: Don't make a big deal of Shahrukh's detention Comment: Citizens All I do not want an apology, says Shahrukh	More Stories from this section Karnataka college keeps girl out for wearing headscarf Bill makes room for pvt role in quality checks Ticketless students gut 4 AC coaches Gujarat coast on alert for LeT landing 9-year-old boy booked for rape

88 Comments on this story. Read them and Post your Own.

Being humiliated every one gets hurt and same has happened with King, but I wounder is the IQ / GK level of the US officers so low that they dont even know who King Khan is, as most of his movies are | Read By Aslam on 18/08/2009 at 05:15 pm

Its interesting to see a general trend in thos posts here that those who have muslim look alike names support SRK, while other did not. In the end, color, religion, race does play a vital role at the | Read By Mikael on 18/08/2009 at 05:06 pm

I do not think that SRK is talking about his detention to get publicity for his new movie.However, I do wish he would stop taking about it already.He should not take his'King Khan' tag too seriously a| Read By naro on 18/08/2009 at 05:05 pm