The controversy surrounding Bollywood actor Imran Khan’s participation in a public political protest in Mumbai, and the subsequent “Leave India” notice served on him, has had more ink expended on it than most news stories in recent weeks. Khan, who holds US citizenship by birth alongside an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, was asked to leave the country on grounds that a foreign national cannot engage in political agitations or protests on Indian soil. Yet for anyone familiar with Khan’s life, the irony is stark: He has lived in India for most of his life, having grown up here, built his career here, paid his taxes here, and maintained virtually all of his social, familial, and personal connections within this country rather than the United States.

This episode highlights a broader phenomenon in Hindi cinema and globalised Indian society. The domestic film industry is filled with prominent figures who carry foreign passports while working, living, and identifying as Indian. Alia Bhatt holds a British passport through her mother Soni Razdan, herself an Indian actress. Katrina Kaif, born in British Hong Kong, carries British citizenship. Jacqueline Fernandez is Sri Lankan, Manisha Koirala Nepali; Kalki Koechlin carries French citizenship despite growing up in India, and Shibani Dandekar holds an Australian passport. Punjabi icon Diljit Dosanjh reportedly acquired US citizenship in 2022, while stars like Nora Fatehi (Canadian), Nargis Fakhri (American), Sunny Leone (Canadian), and Alaya F (American by birth) navigate Indian public life on foreign documents. Add to this list Akshay Kumar, who held Canadian citizenship for years before relinquishing it — and was not an Indian citizen when he made some of his most patriotic films........

© Indian Express