Read Desk. After joining a protest in Mumbai, actor Imran Khan has been ordered to leave India by October 28. This incident has raised questions on his citizenship. Imran Khan holds a US passport and 'Overseas Citizen of India' (OCI) card. This case has given rise to a new debate as to why some celebrities hold foreign citizenship.
The issue has been raised in a post on Reddit's 'r/InstaCelebsGossip' page. The post contains a graphic image titled “Famous in India, foreign on paper”. This includes the names of celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Nora Fatehi and Imran Khan and other famous people. In this, people are divided into different groups on the basis of their citizenship, passport and other allegations against them.
Why has Imran Khan's OCI status become a matter of controversy?
Imran Khan was detained during a protest at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on 10 October. In this demonstration, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was demanded. Speaking to the media at the protest site, the actor said that he had come there to protest against the restrictions on freedom of movement and expression. He said, “I have no demands. I have come here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city. I have come to know why freedom of movement is being restricted? Why is the voice of the people being suppressed? That is why I am here.”
After this, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya lodged a complaint with the 'Foreigners Regional Registration Office' (FRRO). As a result, a notice was sent to Imran Khan, in which he has been ordered to appear before the FRRO by October 28. It has been said in the notice that by taking part in the protest he has violated the rules made for foreign citizens. Due to this situation his OCI status has now become a matter of public controversy. Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Nora Fatehi are seen in the graphic.
This picture of Reddit includes not only film stars, but also people from different fields of public life. Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Nora Fatehi are the actresses, but apart from them, Amy Jackson, Sunny Leone, Jacqueline Fernandez, Lisa Ray, Nargis Fakhri, Kalki Koechlin and Ileana D'Cruz are also included in it. These are all well-known names, which shows that there is a wide variety of celebrities included in this graphic.
It also includes other famous faces like Imran Khan, Shirley Setia, Prakash Amritraj, Vinod Adani, Lalit Modi, Mehul Choksi and The Great Khali. These people represent different professions, from sports to business.
People who hold foreign passports, those who have allegedly changed their citizenship, and those who often have misconceptions about their citizenship status are placed in different categories. Although all of them are well-known, this classification makes clear the differences between each one. The situation of a person who was born abroad, who has Indian citizenship, and who has officially changed his citizenship is not the same.
The picture puts Akshay Kumar, Arata Izumi and Ryan Williams in the category of those who “gave up their second citizenship to get Indian citizenship”; Sonia Gandhi is also included in this category.
What internet users said on Indian passport and citizenship claims
The original Reddit post claimed: “Did you know these celebrities don't hold Indian passports? (Pictured: Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Nora Fatehi and others)”. The user said: “After the recent controversy, when I researched this, I found some interesting stories related to citizenship. I've created a graphic that shows celebrities and public figures who hold foreign citizenships. It also includes people who have changed their citizenship, and clears up some common misconceptions. If you want to read about each person in detail, you can visit the site You can see this graphic by going to and clicking on each name.”
One user said, “Honestly, considering the importance of the Indian passport globally, I wouldn't blame them if someone gives up on it.” Another person wrote, “Deepika Padukone was born in Denmark, but is an Indian citizen. Like the US, Denmark does not grant citizenship by birth. Rahul Gandhi has to be an Indian citizen; he cannot be a non-citizen besides being the Leader of the Opposition (LOP). It is worth noting that Sonia Gandhi gave up her Italian citizenship after almost 13 years of marriage, and during that time she was an important part of one of the most powerful families in India. “Actually, a foreigner was staying in the Prime Minister’s residence.”
Someone else explained, “Creating such inflammatory content and cleverly adding the names of Amartya Sen and Rahul Gandhi to it so that people can be brainwashed and unable to understand the real nuances. Well done!”
Imran Khan's hearing has sparked debate on the topic, and the list of celebrities has significantly expanded the scope of the discussion. The names included may surprise you, but the important thing is that nationality, birthplace and public image – these are three different things. The finer details of a celebrity's citizenship claim matter more than any 'label' (or discussion) attached to it.
'Won't blame them': Imran Khan's OCI row sparks debate on citizenship
Imran Khan's OCI controversy has once again raised questions related to foreign citizenship of famous Indians. Imran Khan was also among those detained during a protest at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on 10 October. Katrina Kaif holds British citizenship, as she was born in British Hong Kong, and her mother is British.
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