Akshay Kumar is an actor and producer with a career spanning over 150 films who also has two national awards to his name. He has also been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009 for his contribution to the field of arts.While speaking to ANI, apart from talking about his projects and tenure in cinema, he also talked about the recent controversy over a new advertisement for a tobacco product brand and opens up on the controversy surrounding his Canadian citizenship.It is to be noted here that Akshay recently got Indian citizenship on the occasion of Independence Day, which he also shared through his X (previously Twitter) account.Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani. Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/DLH0DtbGxk— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 15, 2023Why Akshay Kumar chose to be a Canadian citizenSharing his story about Canadian citizenship, he told ANI, “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.”Akshay Kumar on getting back Indian citizenshipSpeaking on getting Indian citizenship, he said, “For 9 to 10 years I didnt go there. Its 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, its 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”A section of social media users even mocked him by calling him Canadian Kumar.Back in 2019, after receiving backlash for holding Canadian citizenship, Akshay issued a statement via his official Twitter account, stating that he does not understand the negativity around the subject.Meanwhile, on the professional front, Akshay Kumar has worked in Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue, recently.#Jeetenge Video Out Now: https://t.co/CpZXsDAoEM 🇮🇳Book Tickets Now: https://t.co/6yFXIXtrvXWatch the story of Bharats true hero with #MissionRaniganj IN CINEMAS NOW.#MissionRaniganjInCinemasNow pic.twitter.com/qTwINquU6H— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) October 9, 2023
