From Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif: Imran Khan row puts spotlight on Bollywood stars with foreign passports
Mumbai/IBNS: Actor Imran Khan, nephew of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, has landed in trouble after the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) reportedly asked him to leave India by October 28 following his participation in a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The actor has been asked to leave India, with the FRRO citing his American citizenship and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.
The development has brought renewed attention to Bollywood actors who hold foreign citizenship despite building successful careers in Indian cinema.
Bollywood actors who hold foreign citizenship
Several Bollywood actors have established successful careers in Indian cinema while retaining citizenship of other countries.
Here is a look at some prominent names.
1. Alia Bhatt — British citizenship
Born in Mumbai, Alia Bhatt holds British citizenship through her mother, actor Soni Razdan, who was born in the United Kingdom.
Despite her Indian upbringing and successful Bollywood career, Alia is not an Indian citizen.
2. Katrina Kaif — British citizenship
Katrina Kaif was born in Hong Kong and holds British citizenship.
She went on to become one of Bollywood's leading actresses, appearing in films such as Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai and Merry Christmas et al.
3. Nora Fatehi — Canadian citizenship
Born in Toronto, Canada, Nora Fatehi holds Canadian citizenship and comes from a Moroccan family background.
She gained prominence in India through dance performances, music videos and roles in films such as Street Dancer 3D and Bhuj: The Pride of India.
Photo: Nora Fatehi/Facebook
4. Jacqueline Fernandez — Sri Lankan citizenship
Born in Bahrain, Jacqueline Fernandez holds Sri Lankan citizenship.
She entered the entertainment industry after winning the Miss Universe Sri Lanka pageant in 2006 and subsequently built a career in Bollywood with films such as Murder 2, Kick and Housefull 2.
5. Kalki Koechlin — French citizenship
Kalki Koechlin was born in Puducherry to French parents and holds French citizenship.
Known for her work in both mainstream and independent cinema, she has appeared in films such as Dev.D, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
Photo: Kalki Koechlin/Instagram
6. Sunny Leone — Canadian and American citizenship
Born in Canada, Sunny Leone holds Canadian and American citizenship.
She entered mainstream Indian cinema with Jism 2 and subsequently appeared in films including Ragini MMS 2 and Ek Paheli Leela, alongside television and digital projects.
7. Nargis Fakhri — American citizenship
Nargis Fakhri was born in Queens, New York City, and holds American citizenship.
She made her Bollywood debut opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar and later appeared in films such as Madras Cafe and Main Tera Hero.
8. Ileana D'Cruz — Portuguese citizenship
Ileana D'Cruz has been reported to hold Portuguese citizenship, linked to her family's Goan ancestry.
She made her mark in Indian cinema with films such as Barfi!, Rustom and Raid.
Photo: Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram
What about Akshay Kumar?
Akshay Kumar previously held Canadian citizenship but publicly announced in 2023 that he had received Indian citizenship.
He should therefore not be included among Bollywood actors who currently hold only foreign citizenship.
It is to be noted that foreign citizenship and OCI status are distinct, as an OCI card does not confer Indian citizenship.
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