Trolled for not voting, Akshay Kumar admits to Canadian citizenship

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, May 3

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Actor Akshay Kumar, who was criticised on social media for not showing up to cast his vote during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, on Friday admitted that he was a Canadian citizen and was not eligible to participate in India’s electoral process.

”I really don’t understand the unwarranted interest and negativity about my citizenship. I have never hidden or denied that I hold a Canadian passport,” Akshay Kumar said in a message on Twitter.

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar)

However the actor, who was seen endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi by participating in a cloying interview with him, said he has not visited Canada in the last seven years. “I work in India, and pay all my taxes in India,” he said in his statement on Twitter.

The actor went on to say that the issue concerning his citizenship was a personal one. “.....I find it disappointing that my citizenship issue is constantly dragged into needless controversy, a matter that is personal, legal, non-political, and of no consequence to others,” he added.

Akshay Kumar, who has of late appeared in several films with nationalism as a theme like Airlift and Kesari, has also been endorsing people to cast their votes. However on polling day his wife
Twinkle Khanna was seen at the voting centre without the actor accompanying her. Later when questioned by reporters, Akshay Kumar simply said “Chaliye beta,” and tried to evade giving a reply.

Film journalists subsequently pointed out that the actor actually held Canadian citizenship. With Opposition parties also questioning the actor’s endorsement for Modi and the BJP, Akshay Kumar chose to make his statement today.