Is Akshay Kumar ‘Canadian’ or ‘Indian’? After Viral Video, an RTI Query on His Nationality Is Making Us Confused! Here’s Why!

We had done a story sometime back about a video of Akshay Kumar that is going on viral on Twitter. In the leaked video that is shot during an event in Toronto, Canada, Akshay Kumar is heard saying about how he is a son of the city and that he plans to settle there after retiring (from acting). The video again brings into question Akshay's nationality, as certain reports (and Wikipedia) suggest that he holds a Canadian passport. Akshay Kumar More 'Canadian' Than 'Indian'? Plans to Settle in Toronto After Retiring - Watch Viral Video.

After the video of Akshay Kumar went viral, his fans are now circulating certain documents that proclaim his nationality is Indian. The documents are actually screenshots of an RTI query, made by an online magazine called Acadman. The article was posted back in January 2018. The query goes like this - "Is the Bollywood Actor Akshay Kumar, born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, whose Date of Birth is 9 September 1967, (whose movie Toilet: Ek Prem Katha made tax free in Uttar Pradesh, recently) a citizen of India or an Overseas Citizen of India, as defined under The Citizenship Act, 1955?"

To this, the Ministry of Home Affairs – New Delhi replied that he is not. And then another question was posed to them, - "Does the above described Akshay Kumar has ever voluntarily abandoned the Citizenship of India?". The answer - "No records of such occurrence is available."

Normally this should have silenced all the detractors. However, this RTI query leaves us more confused, and we have our reasons for the same. Karan Johar, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn Meet Narendra Modi to Discuss Issues Faced by Bollywood.

Like, the whole question over Akshay's citizenship happened when he was detained at the Heathrow airport in 2016 over his Canadian passport. Whenever the media questioned the actor, known for his patriotic fervour movies like Gold and Baby, over this, his team replied that he holds dual citizenship.

However, this is what our Constitution has to say on 'dual citizenship' - "Indian laws do not provide for dual citizenship as clearly interpreted from Article 9 of the constitution of India or Section 8 of The Citizenship Act, 1955. So you cannot hold a passport of any other country if you hold an Indian Passport." So rule that option out!

Akshay Kumar later retracted that statement while he was promoting for Jolly LLB 2, where he clarified, "That is honorary, that is not what you think." Which means he holds honorary citizenship from Canada. But read what this CBC article has to say about this - "Canada occasionally bestows an honorary Canadian citizenship on foreigners of exceptional merit. It is a symbolic honour and does not give the recipients any rights, privileges or duties typically held by Canadian citizens." As of now, Canada has bestowed this honour to only six high profile individuals  - Raoul Wallenberg, Nelson Mandela, Tenzin Gyatso, Aung San Suu Kyi (that was later revoked), Aga Khan and Malala Yousafzai. Akshay Kumar's name is not in the list.

Akshay might be referring to the honorary doctorate degree he got from the University of Windsor in Canada in 2008. But since when does a degree from a university make you a citizen of that country? Meanwhile, India doesn't have 'honourary citizenship'.

If the RTI query is right and Akshay has never dropped his Indian citizenship, then why does he hold a Canadian passport? Was that 2016 report false? Or has there been a serious oversight by Ministry of External Affairs over the passport issues?

Of course, we love Akshay Kumar for his entertaining movies rather than in which country he really belongs to. However, this whole saga is definitely mysterious!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 25, 2018 10:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).