Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 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

    No Size-Zero Funda For 'Punjabi Kudi' Priyanka Chopra

    No Size-Zero Funda For 'Punjabi Kudi' Priyanka Chopra
    Having said that, the actress, known for her slender physique, shared that she cannot starve herself to attain thin frame thanks to her Punjabi roots.

    No Size-Zero Funda For 'Punjabi Kudi' Priyanka Chopra

    Not been offered Salman's 'Sultan': Kriti Sanon

    A media report suggested that Kriti is wary of signing "Sultan" as then she would have to sign up as a Yash Raj Films talent.

    Not been offered Salman's 'Sultan': Kriti Sanon

    Purab Kohli, Fiancee Blessed With A Daughter

    Purab Kohli, Fiancee Blessed With A Daughter
    The stork came visiting Purab Kohli and his fiancée Lucy Payton in London. The couple is blessed with a daughter, and the mother and baby are doing fine, says the actor.

    Purab Kohli, Fiancee Blessed With A Daughter

    Aditi Rao Hydari doesn't mix family with work

    Aditi Rao Hydari, who is filmmaker Kiran Rao's cousin, says she would love to work with her, but the actress doesn't like to mix family with work.

    Aditi Rao Hydari doesn't mix family with work

    Watch: 'Mastizaade' Trailer Oozes Sexual Innuendos, Adult Humour

    Watch: 'Mastizaade' Trailer Oozes Sexual Innuendos, Adult Humour
    The trailer shows lead characters Tusshar Kapoor and Vir Das essaying the roles of two sex addicts Sunnny Kele and Aditya Chotia, respectively, while actress Sunny Leone plays a double role named Lily Lele and Laila Lele.

    Watch: 'Mastizaade' Trailer Oozes Sexual Innuendos, Adult Humour

    Abhishek Bachchan prefers 'lifelong associations' with films

    Just a few days ago, when "Housefull 3" director duo Sajid-Farhad got a special cake in the shape of 'AB' to celebrate the shoot's completion, Abhishek reportedly refused to cut the cake and got emotional.

    Abhishek Bachchan prefers 'lifelong associations' with films