Akshay Kumar Reclaims Indian Citizenship on Independence Day

Hindi actor Akshay Kumar, who had faced backlash for holding Canadian citizenship, officially regained his Indian citizenship on Independence Day, as confirmed by a copy of his citizenship certificate shared on X. In a caption accompanying the post, he expressed, “Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani” (Heart and citizenship, both Indian).

Interestingly, Akshay’s recent film “OMG (Oh, My God) 2” was released just last week, coinciding with the restoration of his Indian citizenship. The decision comes amid prior criticism for residing in India and participating in Hindi cinema despite his Canadian citizenship status.

Born in Amritsar, Punjab, Akshay Kumar had acquired Canadian citizenship in 2011, a move attributed to advice from his Canadian friends during a challenging phase in his early film career. This had led to the forfeiture of his Indian citizenship, which he has now reclaimed. Akshay’s earnestness to regain Indian citizenship intensified with his rising success in the film industry, prompting his family’s return to India.

While Akshay had initiated the process to regain Indian citizenship in 2019, the procedure encountered delays due to the Covid pandemic. His foreign citizenship had attracted considerable attention after an interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence that year. The controversy centered on the fact that a foreign citizen was granted an interview with the Prime Minister. The discourse encompassed both criticism and support, including from BJP sympathizers. Akshay, in response, expressed his disappointment over his loyalty to the nation being questioned. He emphasized in an interview that his deep attachment to India and his accomplishments were rooted here, and unwarranted opinions weighed on him.