Adnan Sami likely to be granted Indian citizenship

Adnan Sami found a place in the hearts of Indian music lovers with his 'Kabhi toh nazar milao' song way back in 2000. 

But it has taken him another 15 years to almost become an Indian citizen. The Bollywood singer who was allowed to stay indefinitely in India in August following the non-renewal of his Pakistani passport, is likely to be granted Indian citizenship. He has been staying for a decade-and-a-half in India, which he considers his "home". The Union home ministry is mulling granting him "citizenship by naturalization" in view of his "distinguished service to the cause of art". But interestingly, even as Adnan is set to become an Indian citizen, his credentials of being a Pakistani - the reason why the likes of Abhijeet don't think he is a worthy addition to the Indian music industry - is also not crystal clear.

READ: Adnan Sami set to be Indian citizen

Adnan was born in London to a Pakistani Pashtun father (originally from Herat, Afghanistan), and an Indian Kashmiri mother. He was brought up in an aristocratic family and educated in the UK. But has a Canadian citizenship! Pakistani artistes in India have often been targeted by hatemongers here at home, most recently when the Shiv Sena called for a 'ban' on actors Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan - not because they're Pakistani, apparently, but because they thought their serial Humsafarwas 'misogynistic'. Before that, it was the cancellation of Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai. As always, news of a Pakistani showbiz artiste in India - one who's now receiving Indian citizenship, no less - caused more vitriolic outpouring online.



Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya has always been vocal about his opinion of singers from across the border performing in India. After the cancellation of the concert, he
didn't mince any words, calling Pakistani singers 'dengue artists'. Earlier, on a news channel, Abhijeet referred ostensibly to Sami, saying that a Pakistani singer's father was "an ISI agent responsible for many attacks on India". Sami's father started his career with the Pakistani Air Force
.