27 FEB 2023

Akshay Kumar's Citizenship Explained

SHAURYA THAPA

'canada' kumar

Actor Akshay Kumar is often trolled as "Canada Kumar', the nickname owing to him having a Canadian passport (and later citizenship). 

PHOTO: IMDB 

However, now on the Aaj Tak show  Seedhi Baat, he made some revelations. 


renouncing canadian passport

"India is everything to me," said Akshay, while announcing that he has renounced his Canadian passport and applied for an Indian one.

photo: india today

why a canada passport?

The 1990s was when Kumar applied for a Canadian passport, hoping to resettle as 15 of his films had flopped then.

PHOTO: INDIA TODAY

what changed his mind? 

When the Canadian passport arrived, Kumar's pending two movies ended up becoming hits. This prompted him to stay back in India even with the Canada passport. 

photo: imdb

but how did HE stay in india?

Giving up his Indian citizenship, Kumar still clung to his Canadian passport and lived in India with a work permit as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). 

photo: imdb

paying taxes in india

As Kumar worked in India ever since, he pays his taxes in India even if he still isn't recognised as a non-OCI citizen. 

GIF: TWITTER

permanent canadian citizenship

In 2011, the Conservative Government bestowed a Canadian citizenship upon Kumar for his cultural contributions to Indo-Canadian relations.

photo: imdb 

applying for an indian passport

In December 2019, the Khiladi actor announced that he is planning to renounce his Canadian citizenship and has applied for an Indian passport. 

photo: india today

has he got his passport yet? 

Even though he blamed pandemic delays after 2020, Kumar has reportedly still not received his Indian passport. 

photo: imdb

akshay kumar's lastest film

Kumar in his his new film Selfiee, plays a  character with similar issues, as a film star who faces difficulty receiving his driver's licence.

photo:  dharma productions