Here's what Anupam Kher has to say about Akshay nationality row

Mumbai: Replying to Akshay Kumar's response to the growing controversy over his citizenship, Anupam Kher adviced him not to fall prey to such controversies. In the past few months, Akshay's citizenship status has been questioned frequently claiming that he holds a Canadian citizenship.

The 64 year old actor tweeted,"Dear @akshaykumar! Have been reading about you explaining to certain people about your loyalty to our country. Stop it! Their real profession is to make people like you & me feel defensive for talking in favour of India. You are a doer. You don’t need to explain to anybody".

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The debate was only amplified by 'khiladi's' conspicuous absence from polling booths when Mumbai went to polls on 29 April despite having recently conducted a "completely non-political" interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days prior.

Akshay Kumar said, "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. It is also equally true that I have not visited Canada in the last seven years. I work in India, and pay all my taxes in India. While all these years, I have never needed to prove my love for India to anyone, 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. I would like to continue contributing in my small way to the causes that I believe in and make India stronger and stronger".

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While Akshay Kumar has so far either been evasive about his citizenship status or claimed that it is honorary (and therefore not valid), a report by the Vancouver Observer, dated 2 September 2012, alleges that Akshay Kumar was granted Canadian citizenship papers "within weeks" after applying.