Mumbai: Actor Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday said his experience at the Newark airport's immigration counter in the US was "embarrassing" and he was not complaining to gain publicity.
"I am scared of the authorities and rules, so I try to follow the rules of the country I travel to. Whenever I am in America, I have to report at least two hours in advance while travelling within the country for security reasons -- they ask me to take off my clothes and shoes, and I do that. But I never experienced this kind of treatment," Khan told reporters in Mumbai on his arrival here four days after he was detained for two hours at the Newark airport.
"There are some routine security measures--they check your finger prints and scan your retina. But the routine security process was not followed. Instead, the authorities asked me bizzare and irrelevant questions. I am not trying to make a point here, but why were security measures not followed?" he asked.
"The security of any country is important but caste, religion or race shouldn't come in the way of security measures. You may call me a mega star, a celebrity, but basically I'm just a normal guy. But I'm lucky that I have access to friends in the (Indian) consulate whom I could call up. But there are hundreds of others who don't have this facility."
Khan denied that the detention drama was a publicity stunt for his forthcoming movie My Name Is Khan. "I don't think that I need publicity," he said.
"I am scared of the authorities and rules, so I try to follow the rules of the country I travel to. Whenever I am in America, I have to report at least two hours in advance while travelling within the country for security reasons -- they ask me to take off my clothes and shoes, and I do that. But I never experienced this kind of treatment," Khan told reporters in Mumbai on his arrival here four days after he was detained for two hours at the Newark airport.
"There are some routine security measures--they check your finger prints and scan your retina. But the routine security process was not followed. Instead, the authorities asked me bizzare and irrelevant questions. I am not trying to make a point here, but why were security measures not followed?" he asked.
"The security of any country is important but caste, religion or race shouldn't come in the way of security measures. You may call me a mega star, a celebrity, but basically I'm just a normal guy. But I'm lucky that I have access to friends in the (Indian) consulate whom I could call up. But there are hundreds of others who don't have this facility."
Khan denied that the detention drama was a publicity stunt for his forthcoming movie My Name Is Khan. "I don't think that I need publicity," he said.
If it is not publicity then what it is Mr. Shah Rukh? What irrelevant questions were they? I have heard you saying asking phone numbers of people u know in the US..was irrelevant and embarassing question?? I PITY YOU. I go to the US over 4 times a year and I know the differences in security checks all along the year too.. But I am happy they are doing it for their own country's security. What is the problem that you did not enter THEIR country? You wanted to hoist Indian Flag in the US!!!! Is that a big reason? Seriously, you so-called celebrities make Indians look so small worldwide. If not for these embarassments, we would have been a BETTER INDIA - I dont think the money you create anyway helps hold India's name in any form.
ReplyDeleteGrow Up!
truely said above.. Why u never had a problem when thousands of other muslims had to go through similar detentions every day.. ??
ReplyDeleteIts their country and they hav every right to protect their people.. It is becoz of u people that India has got such a bad name..
And for everyone's info.. many hollywood celebs alo have to undergo such treatments many a times.. but u dont know ant it.. becoz they never made a new out of it.. !!
Please u too behave like those politicians of ours who never miss a chance to take d advantage of the emotions of Indian public.. And please in no way SRK represents d whole country.