Close X
Friday, November 8, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Adnan Sami Receives Indian Citizenship Certificate

Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Jan, 2016 01:59 PM
    Noted singer Adnan Sami, who is of Pakistani descent, was on Friday granted the certificate of Indian citizenship from Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju here. 
     
    Describing it as his "new birth", he has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for making him an Indian citizen officially.
     
    Sami, who was born in Britain and was earlier a Canadian citizen, received Indian citizenship a day after renowned Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was deported from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad on Thursday due to technical flaws. 
     
    As per reports, Rahat came to India from Abu Dhabi to perform at a New Year's eve event at the Taj Falaknuma Palace. However, immigration authority didn't allow Rahat to enter the city as they stated that the legal ports for Pakistani nationals to enter India are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
     
    An elated Sami, who is in India with his wife Roya Faryabi, later took to Twitter to express gratitude to the Indian government.
     
    “A new beginning. A new feeling. A new belonging. A new love affair. A new country. Jai Hind,” Sami wrote.
     
    He also tweeted a photograph of himself while receiving the certificate from Rijiju. “Receiving my Indian Citizenship Certificate of Naturalisation from MOS Home Affairs @KirenRijiju ji. Huge Thanks,” he captioned the image.
     
    In the image, the 42-year-old can be seen donning a black bandhgala, while Faryabi can be seen in a white ensemble.
     
    Faryabi is Sami's third wife. He was previously married to Pakistani actress Zeba Bakhtiar and Dubai-based Arab Sabah Galadari.
     
     
    Sami, who was granted the Indian citizenship after he made a representation to the home ministry on May 26 requesting for it on humanitarian grounds, later thanked Modi and Rajnath Singh for helping him out in getting the Indian citizenship. 
     
    He wrote: “My profound thanks to honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for approving my Indian citizenship. A new birth. I'm highly indebted to the Honourable Home Minister @BJPRajnathSingh ji for his tremendous support in granting me Indian citizenship.”
     
    He has been living in India on visa since March 2001. He was last given a visa extension in October last year.
     
    Best known for his songs like "Kabhi to nazar milao" and "Lift karaa de" in India, Sami is mostly known for playing a variety of musical instruments and has always maintained that the love he has received from Indians is "everything" for him. 
     
    His last Bollywood song "Bhar do jholi" featured in superstar Salman Khan's 2015 blockbuster "Bajrangi Bhaijaan". 
     
    Sami is not the only person from across the border to get Indian citizenship. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has reportedly granted Indian citizenship to Afsheen Murtuza, a Karachi resident, who got married to an Indian named Murtuza Khan in 1994. 

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Arbaaz's son turns a teenager

    Arbaaz's son turns a teenager
    Actor-producer Arbaaz Khan has wished good health and happiness on his and wife Malaika Arora Khan's son Arhaan's 13th birthday on Monday. 

    Arbaaz's son turns a teenager

    Yuvika Chaudhary Evicted From 'Bigg Boss Nau'

    She is the fifth contestant from the show to get eliminated. Her partner Vikas and Gujarati singer Arvind Vegda got evicted on November 1. 

    Yuvika Chaudhary Evicted From 'Bigg Boss Nau'

    Alia, Kangana are fantastic, says Sonakshi

    Alia, Kangana are fantastic, says Sonakshi
    The actress says her contemporaries Kangana Ranaut and Alia Bhatt are “fantastic”.

    Alia, Kangana are fantastic, says Sonakshi

    Priyanka Chopra Introduces Kashibai Of 'Bajirao Mastani'

    Priyanka Chopra Introduces Kashibai Of 'Bajirao Mastani'
    The actress says her role - Kashibai - displays many emotions from simple and poetic to devoted. 

    Priyanka Chopra Introduces Kashibai Of 'Bajirao Mastani'

    Amitabh Bachchan Loves Video Chatting With Aaradhya

    Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he loves video chatting with his grand-daughter Aaradhya whenever she is travelling.

    Amitabh Bachchan Loves Video Chatting With Aaradhya

    Sonakshi Eager To Do Comedy With Varun Dhawan

    Sonakshi Eager To Do Comedy With Varun Dhawan
    Actress Sonakshi Sinha says she wants to do a “mad comedy” film with actor Varun Dhawan.

    Sonakshi Eager To Do Comedy With Varun Dhawan