Mammooty, the super star of Malayalam cinema, was briefly "separatedfor questioning" by security officials at the JFK International Airporthere after part of his official name 'Muhammadkutty Ismail' popped up on thecomputer screen at the immigration counter.

56-year-old Mammooty, whose full name is 'Muhammadkutty Ismail Paniparambil',was seperated for questioning for more than two hours on April 29 after hearrived here by a British Airways flight, sources said.

He was allowed to leave the airport after the Indian Consulate contactedauthorities concerned and explained that he was a popular actor in southernIndia and has visited the US many times in the past, consulate sources toldPTI.

"There was no formal intervention by the mission," the sources said,adding that the consulate was informed about the incident by the localMalayalee Association members, who had gone to receive the actor.

The superstar of Malayalam cinema, who has acted in more than 300 films inMalayalam and Tamil, was taken to a separate room and was briefly questioned onhis purpose of visit to the US and other details.

According to sources close to the actor, JFK airport security officials saidthey took him seperately as they "had instructions to check the details ofall those passengers with the name -- Muhammad Ismail."