Bollywood Star To Cut U.S. Visits

(AP)  Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said Tuesday he will cut back on visits to the United States, especially with his family, after he was questioned by immigration officials at a New York-area airport.

Khan was taken aside at Newark's Liberty International Airport on Friday for what officials said was routine questioning. They denied he was formally detained, saying the incident lasted barely more than an hour and was prolonged only because his bag had been lost by the airline.

But the questioning set off outrage in India, where politicians, sports celebrities and film stars regularly receive VIP treatment at airports. Angry fans burned a U.S. flag and protested what they saw as ill-treatment of a beloved star, and politicians called for an investigation.

The Muslim actor was promoting his latest film, "My Name is Khan," about racial profiling after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Khan told reporters Tuesday after returning to Mumbai that the incident had been "blown out of proportion." But he said the questioning _ which included requests for the names of people who could vouch for him _ embarrassed him.

He said he will travel to the U.S. less frequently.

"Of course I will visit the U.S. if I have to go for my work. But I will go less often. If I have three things to do, I will club them together and go just once," he said. "And certainly, I wouldn't like to travel with my family to the U.S."

Khan, 44, appealed to fans to stop protesting.

"Let's put this behind us, think positively and move ahead," he told fans during a news conference.

Khan has acted in around 70 movies in a career spanning two decades. He has consistently topped popularity rankings in India for the past several years.

[mitch1Clayton]

Way to go!! Great job by your immigration and customs cops. Keep up the good work and soon you wont have anybody to screen because they will stop coming. Move these gung-ho types down to the Mexican border where the real action is; or maybe they have to hire a Mexicans to do the jobs that Americans wont do.

[TheMasses2016]

Big star?

The guys smelling his pits in the pic!

[rational_1]

"Bollywood Star To Cut U.S. Visits"

I'm heartbroken. Sniff...

To protest this I'm going to stop watching all these Indian movies where right in the middle of the plot everyone suddenly stops what they're doing and randomly starts singing in a garden to some truly funky music (what instruments make that sound?). And then the plot resumes as if nothing had happened. *** just happened, I always ask myself - but no more. I am giving up my guilty pleasure in protest.

[rational_1]

Amazing, now they're censoring W T F.

[rivjoh]

You smell like a Racist..

[Sloughfoot]

GOOD!

[stn_sage]

How ironic! He comes here to promote his latest movie which is about racial profiling, and upon entering the U.S., he is---himself---the victim of racial profiling! WOW! Reality is stranger than fiction, isn't it?!

By the way, if he was held for AN HOUR?! He WAS DETAINED! I can't possibly think what they would have to question him on for an hour! That's a little bit outrageous!

Leave it to the Dept of Homeland Defense to spread 'cheer and goodwill' amongst foreign visitors---well done! Way to go, guys! It's good to see that there is no one which you are NOT paranoid of!

[6591Hou]

"the incident lasted barely more than an hour and was prolonged only because his bag had been lost by the airline."

read the story, bag lost.

[braniff77]

It's not racial profiling if your name is on a watch list (according to other news reports) and you come into the country without luggage. There are plenty of US citizens whose names are mistakenly on the watch list and have trouble passing through security. Sorry if Mr. Big Shot didn't get special treatment that these US citizens don't get.

[TheMasses2016]

Waterboard him next time.
Just for laughs .............

[rocketjl]

Bye

[jd2408]

Who is this man ? He is welcome to stay away !

[rivjoh]

Sharukh - I can understand when these funny people tell you get someone to "Vouch" for you..You are a big star...Indians should know from US customs how to harass Americans when they visit India...they should start doing it in Indian airports as part of the Indian security procedures....By the way..America is bankrupt and there is no use visiting this country..where people roam with guns, this is still racist country...

[johnwayne932]

Shah Rukh Khan, please stay in India as we will not support any more of your movies.

[rivjoh]

Yes..he knows that you cannot afford to go and see movies anymore becos of recession and credit crisis...Its very unfortunate that you have become a poor and homeless.