Irrfan Khan Ceased At US Airport

This article was last updated on May 25, 2022

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My name is Khan and i’m not a terrorist. This catch dialogue from Shah Rukh Khan’s movie ‘My Name is Khan’ should have reverberated through actor Irrfan Khan’s mind as he was stopped “several times” through the immigration authorities in the United States airports.

“It’s embarrassing. They do not even reveal the main reason,” says Irrfan, who’s the most recognized actors from India in Hollywood having worked in Oscar-winner ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘Life of Pi’ & crowd pleaser ‘Spider-Man’.

“Actually, I do not use my surname Khan in movies, however in passports, surname & religion are needed. I had been ceased not once, but many times at airports in America.

“Once I told the immigration folks, so why do you issue visas, if you do not want to give us entry, and the man scowled at me saying –Are you threatening me?,” Irrfan said on Rajat Sharma’s show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ to be telecast on India TV.

Irrfan was detained two times in the US airports– at LA airport in 2008 and also at New York airport in ’09.

But, he isn’t the only celebrity to deal with this issue. Shah Rukh, his co-star and producer in ‘Billu’, was once ceased in the Newark airport in ’09. He faced an identical problem last year at the NY airport.

Other prominent Indians who’ve gone through a similar experience are former President APJ Abdul Kalam, John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukhesh and Kabir Khan to mention a few.

The actor, who’s presently starring in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s ‘Sahib, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns’, states he’s fed up by facing this every time he travels to US.

“The policemen with big guns simply take you to a room and ask you to sit. they do not permit you to talk to anybody, nor use mobile phones. After long waits, they come and merely say –’Go, please go’.

“So now, I’ve told my hosts clearly that in case I’m stopped at the airport, I’ll just purchase a ticket and go back to India,” said Irrfan.

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