'The Grand Budapest Hotel' actor barred from boarding fligth for wearing a turban

Indian-American actor and designer Waris Ahluwalia is not a very happy man at the moment as he was barred from boarding an Aeroméxico flight because he refused to remove his turban.

Ahluwalia who has appeared in movies like the Oscar-award winning 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', 'Inside Man' to name a few, was flying from Mexico City to New York, to attend the New York Fashion Week when the incident occurred.

Narrating the incident on his Instagram account, Ahluwalia wrote:

"This morning in Mexico City, I was told I could not board my Aeroméxico flight to New York City because of my turban,"

Four hours later, he posted another photograph in front of the Aeroméxico desk saying:

"Dear NYC fashion week, I may be a little late as Aeroméxico won't let me fly with a turban. Don't start the show without me,"

Later that night still in Mexico city, Ahluwalia wrote:

"13 hours later. Still in Mexico City. No traveller should be subjected to what I was today. All we're asking for from Aeroméxico is an apology and education/training of the staff."

Ahluwalia, a Sikh, was the first Sikh man to model for Gap and by his doctrine is prohibited from removing his turban.

He is also the founder of the jewellery label House of Waris, and his dapper dressing has often earned him the title of being one of the best-dressed men in the world.

Reacting to the incident, Aeroméxico, which is the largest airline in Mexico, issued a statement saying that it was was committed to carrying all passengers irrespective of religion or gender.

It however added that it was "required to meet federal safety requirements determined by the Air Transport Authority of the United States for review of selected passengers travelling to the United States" and that "it regrets the inconvenience that any passenger may perceive from the application of these procedures."

Meanwhile, the civil rights group Sikh Coalition which is representing Ahluwalia's case, has demanded a public apology from the airlines, along with staff training on how to screen passengers with religious headgear.