Close X
Thursday, November 28, 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

    Priyanka Chopra Becomes Asia's Third Most Followed Woman On Twitter

    Priyanka Chopra Becomes Asia's Third Most Followed Woman On Twitter
    "Thank you all so much #12MillionPCManiacs this is such a wonderful good luck present!! You all are my strength," Priyanka tweeted

    Priyanka Chopra Becomes Asia's Third Most Followed Woman On Twitter

    I Am Very Conservative In Real Life: Deepika Padukone

    I Am Very Conservative In Real Life: Deepika Padukone
    Actress Deepika Padukone, who depicts the role of Mastani in the forthcoming historical romance film "Bajirao Mastani", says she doesn't endorse the character personally as she is very conservative in real life.

    I Am Very Conservative In Real Life: Deepika Padukone

    'Dilwale' faces protests in Rajasthan

    The Goa Police on Friday booked pop star Remo Fernandes on charge of verbally abusing a minor girl, who was injured by a car allegedly driven by his son on December 1.

    'Dilwale' faces protests in Rajasthan

    Madhur Bhandarkar honoured at film festival in Pakistan

    Indian filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar was felicitated with the Memorial Award at the Rafi Peer International Film Festival 2015 by Pakistani actress Zeba.

    Madhur Bhandarkar honoured at film festival in Pakistan

    John Abraham Wields Gun In 'Rocky Handsome' First Look

    Actor John Abraham, who will next be seen in Nishikant Kamat's upcoming film "Rocky Handsome", has unveiled his "first look" from the movie, where he can be seen toting a gun.

    John Abraham Wields Gun In 'Rocky Handsome' First Look

    'Shivaay' coming out really well: Ajay Devgn

    'Shivaay' coming out really well: Ajay Devgn
    Actor Ajay Devgn, who was last seen on the silver screen in the film "Drishyam", says "Shivaay" is coming out well and the action sequences of the film have been keeping him busy.

    'Shivaay' coming out really well: Ajay Devgn