Sadh withstood 6-hour interrogation; walks away with kirpan for friend.
By Akanksha Warrier
MUMBAI: Actor Amit Sadh, who made his debut in the hit film Kai Po Che, got into trouble with immigration and Department of Homeland Security officials at the John F. Kennedy airport in New York, for carrying a kirpan in his hand baggage.
According to a report in Bollywood Hungama, Sadh was detained at the airport recently, when he flew in from India for a vacation, to spend time with friends and family. He was carrying the kirpan, an article of faith for the Sikh community, as a favor for a friend in New York, who had asked Sadh to get it for him.
Sadh had reportedly gone to the Golden Temple in Amritsar for the kirpan. But the act of kindness for a friend turned into a frustrating experience for him at the Kennedy airport. He was pulled out from the immigration line, taken aside, asked to furnish all his documents, and interrogated as to why he wanted to enter the US with a knife.
What followed was hours spent answering questions, with Sadh trying to make the authorities understand that the knife had religious significance, adds the report. He was eventually released after spending a total of six hours at the airport, and significantly, with the kirpan still in his possession.
It’s indeed a rare case of immigration authorities allowing that to happen, and it’s a welcome sign for a city like New York which has seen a spurt in hate crimes against Sikhs recently. Sadh must be admired for the way he stood up to the officials when being interrogated and deciding not to give in meekly and give away the kirpan, before being allowed to clear immigration. His lucky friend is likely to treasure the kirpan more so now.
Many Bollywood actors, including Shah Rukh Khan and Irrfan Khan have faced trouble at US airports, and been detained for extended interrogations. Irrfan Khan has vowed to never go to the US again.
Sadh, who started work as an actor in television soaps, has now completely shifted his focus towards Bollywood. He will soon be seen in Shoojit Sircar’s Running Shaadi.comopposite Tapsee Pannu and he is also wrapping up Subhash Kapoor’s Guddu Rangeela which stars Arshad Warsi and Aditi Rao Hydari.