( CNN ) -- Leading Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan says he was detained for nearly two hours Friday night at New Jersey 's Newark International Airport because of his last name . Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan said he was detained by authorities at the Newark , New Jersey , airport . In an interview with CNN 's sister network in India , CNN-IBN , Khan said immigration officials at the airport detained him for questioning after they said his name was flagged . `` They kept on telling me that my name is common to some name that has popped up on the computer , so they need to follow procedure , '' he said . `` It took them an hour and a half , two hours ; they kept on asking me questions , if I could give them any ... numbers in America that they can contact and vouch for me and who I am . '' A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman said the agency could not comment on specific incidents . `` I was really taken aback because there were people who knew me there , '' Khan told CNN-IBN , referring to other travelers who were nearby . Rajeev Shukla , the secretary of India 's ruling Congress party and a friend of Khan 's , told CNN that the actor called him from Newark , as well as Khan 's secretary and family . Shukla said Khan , who was en route to Chicago , Illinois , was allowed to leave after Indian Embassy officials intervened . In New Delhi , India , U.S . Ambassador Timothy Roemer issued a statement describing Khan as a `` very welcome guest '' in the United States and a `` global icon . '' `` Many Americans love his films , '' Roemer said . `` We are trying to ascertain the facts of the case -- to understand what took place . '' The Indian government said in a written statement that it understood that Khan had been `` taken aside for 'secondary questioning ' '' at Newark airport . `` The consulate general of India got in touch with him immediately upon learning about the incident , '' the statement said . `` Mr. Khan said that he was all right . The consulate offered him any assistance that he may require . '' The government said it has taken up the matter with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi . CNN 's Harmeet Shah Singh contributed to this report .
Indian movie star Shah Rukh Khan says he was held for two hours . The incident happened in the city of Hyderabad on Saturday when a group of men tried to snatch his car and beat him up. Officials asked for ID verification , though others at airport recognized him , he says . Ambassador to India calls Khan `` a very welcome guest '' in United States .