Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan tweets frustration at Los Angeles airport detention

The actor said he gets stopped by officials “every damn time”
Frustrated: Shah Rukh Khan claimed he was detained for a third time
STR/AFP/Getty
Emma Powell12 August 2016
The Weekender

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Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has expressed his frustration at being "detained" by US authorities at Los Angeles International Airport.

Khan, 50, said he respects security protocol but claimed he gets stopped by officials “every damn time”.

He 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.”

Known as the "King of Bollywood," the Indian TV favourite managed to make light of the situation and joked that he took the opportunity to play Pokemon Go.

He tweeted: “The brighter side is while waiting caught some really nice Pokemons.”

Khan received apologies from Nisha Biswal, the US State Department's assistant secretary on south and central Asian affairs, and Rich Verma the US ambassador to India.

Biswal tried to reassure the actor that he wasn’t being singled out and that American diplomats are often questioned.

She tweeted: “Sorry for the hassle at the airport, @iamsrk - even American diplomats get pulled for extra screening!"

Verma posted: “Sorry for the trouble at LAX @iamsrk. We are working to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Your work inspires millions, including in the US.”

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Khan was stopped by immigration officials at Newark Liberty International airport in New Jersey in 2009.

In 2012 he was detained at New York's White Plains Airport for two hours after arriving from India.

Speaking at the time, Indian politician SM Krishna said the "policy of detention and apology by the US cannot continue".

US customs and border protection authorities later expressed "profound" apologies.

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