“Indian from heart, mind and soul”: Akshay Kumar speaks on giving up Canadian citizenship

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has officially renounced his Canadian citizenship and embraced his Indian roots. The actor, known for his patriotic roles, made this decision last year and recently discussed it at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2024.

A Heartfelt Connection to India When asked about the timing of his decision, Akshay humorously responded, “Not any baba, it was the blessings of my parents. Main chup chaap nikal gaya (I left without making a noise)." He further explained that he had applied for Indian citizenship during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the unversed, Akshay got his Indian passport just a couple of days before the India-Canada conflict. A Look Back at the Past The actor also shed light on the reasons behind acquiring Canadian citizenship in the first place. He stated, "My films were not working at the time. And all people should work, I was getting some work there with a friend on mine in cargo. But then two of my movies were up for release and they became hits. Then I got a bunch of more hits and forgot about it (Canadian citizenship).” A Strong Sense of Indian Identity Akshay emphasized his deep-rooted connection to India, saying, “I am an Indian from my mind, from my heart and from my soul. That will always be. So I never cared about that. But about 3-4 years back, I had said on this stage that I will give it up. It took some time and last year, exactly on 14th or 15th August, I got my passport.”

Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani. Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind! ???????? pic.twitter.com/DLH0DtbGxk — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 15, 2023

Speaking of the professional front, Akshay was last seen in Khel Khel Mein, followed by a brief cameo in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again. He has a packed schedule with Housefull 5, Jolly LLB 3, Sky Force, and Bhooth Bangla in the pipeline. In addition to this, he will also headline Ajay Devgn’s upcoming directorial. 

Also Read: Akshay Kumar confirms losing Phool Aur Kaante to Ajay Devgn; here’s why it was a “win-win situation” for both!