15 August 2023, Mumbai: Independence Day has offered an Amazing Gift for Akki; Actor Akshay Kumar has officially become an Indian citizen. The actor, who was previously a Canadian citizen, took to Twitter to share this significant update, accompanied by a picture of his official government documents.
Akshay Kumar Shares Good News on Twitter
Akshay’s decision to embrace Indian citizenship has drawn attention, as he was previously criticized by certain segments for holding Canadian citizenship. His Twitter post featured a document with his name now listed as Akshay Hariom Bhatia. The accompanying caption read, “Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani. Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind.” His announcement was met with congratulatory messages from fans and well-wishers, celebrating both his commitment to his homeland and the occasion of Independence Day.
Akshay’s struggles for Indian Passport
Akshay had expressed his intention to apply for an Indian passport. He reaffirmed this pledge during another Leadership Summit session, sharing insights into the process and the timing of the decision. Addressing the matter of his Canadian passport, Akshay emphasized that holding a Canadian passport did not diminish his Indian identity. He stated, “Having a Canadian passport does not mean I am any less of an Indian. I am very much Indian. I have been here since last nine years when I got the passport. And I don’t want to get into the reason of why, what happened, my films were not working, blah blah blah, chalo woh theek hai.”
The Covid and Longing Years
He then recounted his journey of applying for the change, noting that he had applied in 2019 but the pandemic disrupted the process. He highlighted, “Yes, I had said it in 2019, I applied for it. Then uske baad pandemic aagaya. Uske 2-2.5 saal sab kuch band hogaya. Renounce ka abhi mera letter aagaya hai (Then the pandemic happened and everything shut down for 2-2.5 years. My renounce letter is here) and very soon my whole passport will be coming.”
Akshay Kumar’s Upcoming Movies
As he continues to contribute to Indian cinema, Akshay Kumar’s latest release ‘OMG 2,’ featuring Pankaj Tripathi, is performing well at the box office. Upcoming projects include the Hindi remake of ‘Soorarai Pottru,’ where he will be seen alongside Radhika Madan and Paresh Rawal. He’s also set to captivate audiences in the action thriller ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ alongside Tiger Shroff, scheduled for an Eid 2024 release. Additionally, fans eagerly anticipate his return in the fifth installment of the hit comedy franchise ‘Housefull,’ as well as the much-anticipated ‘Hera Pheri 3.’ Through his work and commitment to his homeland, Akshay Kumar continues to inspire and connect with audiences on multiple levels.
By Yashika Desai