New Delhi: Actor Akshay Kumar, who was a Canadian citizen till recently, informed everyone on Independence Day this year that he has reclaimed Indian citizenship. Now in a recent interview, the actor, who has often received flak for Canadian citizenship, opened up about why he had opted for it and the backlash he faced.
During his conversation with ANI, the actor said, "I became a Canadian because my films were not doing well at one time and I gave 13 to 14 flop films. At that time, my friend used to live in Canada and he said you come here and we will work on something. My friend had offered me that we would do cargo business together. I said okay my films are also not going well and a person has to work, no matter where he is. When I started living in Toronto, I got a Canadian passport. In between that, two films were left for release. After the two movies got released it became a big superhit. I told him that I was going back. Then I got more films and reached here today. But I never thought people got a hold of it, it was just a travel document. I just pay my taxes, and I am the highest taxpayer."
Speaking on getting Indian citizenship, he said, "For 9 to 10 years I didn't go there. It's a very nice place and one of my best friends is there. I decided that I should take my citizenship. It was just a coincidence that I had received a letter on 15th August that I had got citizenship. But it is not just a passport, it is your mind, it is your heart, it's your soul that has to be Indian. What is the point if I do have an Indian passport but my soul mind and heart are not Indian?"
On August 15 this year, Akshay shared a picture of his official government documents and wrote, "Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani. Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind.”
On the work front, Akshay Kumar’s latest release ‘Mission Raniganj’ is currently running in theatres.