Shah Rukh Khan Detained at LA Airport
Shah Rukh Khan has been “detained” by US authorities at Los Angeles International Airport.
It is not clear why the Bollywood star was detained, or for how long.
The US ambassador to India has apologized for the detention and said authorities were working to ensure it did not happen again.
In 2012, Shah Rukh Khan was detained for 90 minutes at the White Plains airport near New York.
Shah Rukh Khan’s detention by US authorities for 90 minutes at White Plains airport near New York has sparked outrage in India
In 2009, the actor was stopped for two hours at Newark airport. He was released after India’s embassy intervened.
Shah Rukh Khan, who flew into Los Angeles on August 12, tweeted: “I fully understand & respect security with the way the world is, but to be detained at US immigration every damn time really really sucks.”
However, the actor added: “The brighter side is while waiting caught some really nice Pokemons.”
Although there was no comment from immigration officials, the US State Department’s assistant secretary on south and central Asian affairs, Nisha Biswal, tweeted to Shah Rukh Khan, saying she was “sorry for the hassle”, adding that US diplomats also face this situation.
Later, the US ambassador to India, Rich Verma, apologized to Shah Rukh Khan.
In 2012, Shah Rukh Khan arrived on a private plane and was on his way to Yale University for a function when he was stopped.
An Indian government minister said at the time that this “policy of detention and apology by the US cannot continue”.
US customs and border protection authorities later expressed “profound” apologies for the incident.
Shah Rukh Khan had later made light of the incident and joked about it.
“Whenever I start feeling arrogant about myself, I always take a trip to America. The immigration guys kick the star out of stardom,” the Bollywood star told a gathering of students at Yale University.
Shah Rukh Khan has appeared in more than 70 films and is considered one of India’s most recognizable and popular celebrities.