Akshay Kumar gets Indian citizenship on Independence Day: Details inside
What's the story
On the momentous occasion of India's 77th Independence Day, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar announced he has received Indian citizenship!
He shared a photo of his official documents on social media on Tuesday, delighting his massive fan base and shutting down trolls once and for all.
Kumar's citizenship holds particular resonance, as his Canadian citizenship has been a subject of scrutiny for a long time.
Announcement
'Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani'
Kumar, who has frequently encountered questions and criticisms regarding his Canadian citizenship, once expressed in an interview with Aaj Tak that India meant everything to him.
Now, Kumar has shared the proof of his Indian citizenship on X (formerly Twitter) that identified him as Akshay Hariom Bhatia.
Accompanying it was a caption that read, "Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani. Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind."
Twitter Post
Take a look at Kumar's post here!
Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani.
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 15, 2023
Happy Independence Day!
Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/DLH0DtbGxk
Reactions
Fans rushed to congratulate Kumar on social media
Following Kumar's announcement on social media, fans flooded the comment section of his post to extend their congratulations.
A user commented, "Congratulations paaji! You were an Indian before, and you're an Indian now!"
Meanwhile, another admirer commented, "You've faced enough challenges due to your citizenship, even when you've done so much for our soldiers and women...this document serves as a fitting response to all."
Lookback
When Kumar decided to renounce Canadian passport
In the past, Kumar announced his intention to relinquish his Canadian passport in an effort to address controversies surrounding his citizenship.
To recall, his citizenship became a topic of discussion after an interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2019—shortly before the Lok Sabha elections.
In the same year, at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Kumar promised to apply for an Indian passport.
Reason
Why Kumar obtained Canadian passport in first place
Kumar, who is known for blockbuster hits like Hera Pheri, Namastey London, and OMG franchise, once discussed a challenging phase in his career when he faced 15 flops.
Following a series of box office failures, he found himself uncertain about his next steps, Kumar reportedly said.
At that point, a friend advised him to explore opportunities in Canada—for which he obtained a Canadian passport.