The passport paradox: Why some of India's biggest household icons cannot vote

Alia Bhatt, Soni Razdan and Katrina Kaif

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, who rose to fame with Student of the Year and went on to deliver hits such as Raazi, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, is not an Indian citizen, surprising as it may sound. She holds British citizenship through her mother, Soni Razdan, who was born in Birmingham, England, and also holds a British passport. Alia has previously said she cannot vote in Indian elections. Another well-known Bollywood actress who holds foreign citizenship is Katrina Kaif. Famous for Namastey London, Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai, Katrina was born in Hong Kong before its handover to China in 1997 and holds British citizenship.

Amy Jackson, Imran Khan and Nargis Fakhri

Aamir Khan's nephew Imran Khan, famous for films such as Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, Delhi Belly and I Hate Luv Storys, has been in the news after Mumbai's Foreigners Regional Registration Office ordered him to leave India by October 28, 2026, over his participation in a political protest. Born in Wisconsin, United States, Imran holds American citizenship and an OCI card. Amy Jackson, who made her name in South Indian cinema with films such as Madrasapattinam, I and 2.0, is British and was born on the Isle of Man. Actress and model Nargis Fakhri, famous for Rockstar, Madras Cafe and Main Tera Hero, is also American. She grew up in New York and has Pakistani and Czech family roots.

Orry, Sunny Leone and Nora Fatehi

Social media personality Orry, whose real name is Orhan Awatramani, is famous for being Bollywood's self-styled Gen-Z best friend and regularly appears alongside star kids, celebrities and billionaire heirs. He has been described online as an American citizen, although his passport status could not be independently verified. Bollywood actress and MTV Splitsvilla host Sunny Leone, famous for Jism 2 and the song Baby Doll, was born in Canada and holds Canadian and American citizenship. Nora Fatehi, known for her Bollywood dance performances in Dilbar, O Saki Saki and Garmi, was born in Toronto and holds Canadian citizenship.

Lisa Ray, Kalki Koechlin and Elli AvrRam

Supermodel, acclaimed actress and cancer survivor Lisa Ray, famous for Kasoor and the critically acclaimed film Water, was born in Toronto and holds Canadian citizenship. Actress and writer Kalki Koechlin, well known for her unconventional roles in Dev.D, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Margarita with a Straw, holds French citizenship through her parents despite being born and raised in India. Elli AvrRam, who gained fame through Bigg Boss 7 and Hindi films such as Mickey Virus and Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, was born in Stockholm, Sweden. She is widely described as holding Swedish and Greek citizenship.

Jacqueline Fernandez, Ileana D'Cruz and Shirley Setia

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, famous for her glamorous appearances and roles in Murder 2, Kick and the Housefull franchise, was born in Bahrain but holds Sri Lankan citizenship. Actress Ileana D'Cruz, who achieved major success in South Indian cinema before winning Bollywood audiences with Barfi! and Rustom, was born in Mumbai but acquired Portuguese citizenship in 2014. Viral YouTube sensation, singer and actress Shirley Setia also holds foreign citizenship. Born in Daman, she grew up in Auckland after her family moved to New Zealand. Famous for her Hindi song covers and films such as Maska and Nikamma, Shirley holds New Zealand citizenship.

The Great Khali and Prakash Amritraj

Former WWE wrestler The Great Khali, whose real name is Dalip Singh Rana, is still remembered by millions of Indian wrestling fans who grew up watching him fight stars such as The Undertaker, John Cena and Batista. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion became an American citizen on February 20, 2014. Tennis player Prakash Amritraj, son of Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, was born in California and holds American citizenship. Although he previously represented India in the Davis Cup, India's rules restricting national-team participation to Indian passport holders later affected his eligibility.

Mehul Choksi and Lalit Modi

Mehul Choksi, the fugitive diamond merchant accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, obtained citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in November 2017. Choksi, who denies wrongdoing, later surrendered his Indian passport. There have also been efforts to revoke his foreign citizenship. Lalit Modi, the founder and first chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has faced allegations of financial irregularities in India. He obtained a Vanuatu passport, but the country's government ordered proceedings to cancel it in March 2025. His final citizenship status could not be independently confirmed.

Akshay Kumar, Adnan Sami and Sonia Gandhi

Bollywood action star Akshay Kumar, famous for his action and comedy films such as Khiladi, Hera Pheri, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Rowdy Rathore, previously held Canadian citizenship. However, the actor became an Indian citizen again on August 15, 2023, ending years of controversy over his passport. Famous singer Adnan Sami, known for hit songs such as Lift Karadey, Kabhi To Nazar Milao and Tera Chehra, previously held Pakistani citizenship before becoming an Indian citizen on January 1, 2016. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, mother of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, was born in Italy and acquired Indian citizenship on April 30, 1983.

Arata Izumi and Ryan Williams

Japan-born footballer Arata Izumi, known for his performances in Indian club football and his association with Pune FC, obtained Indian citizenship in August 2012. He later represented India's national football team. Australian-born footballer Ryan Williams, who previously played for Australia and became a star performer for Bengaluru FC, followed a similar path in 2025. Williams, whose mother was born in Mumbai, gave up his Australian passport to become an Indian citizen. He subsequently received FIFA clearance to represent India, after previously playing for Australia at international level.

Deepika Padukone and Rahul Gandhi

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, daughter of former world No. 1 badminton player and All England champion Prakash Padukone, made her Bollywood debut with Om Shanti Om and went on to star in Chennai Express, Padmaavat and Pathaan. Although she was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Deepika holds Indian citizenship. She has publicly confirmed that she possesses an Indian passport and has voted in Indian elections. Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has also faced allegations of holding British citizenship. However, on August 31, 2026, the Allahabad High Court dismissed one petition as withdrawn after the petitioners failed to produce documents supporting their claims. The court did not establish that Gandhi was a British citizen.

Nirav Modi and Amartya Sen

Fugitive diamond businessman Nirav Modi, once a prominent international jeweller, is accused in the massive Punjab National Bank fraud case involving approximately Rs 13,600 crore. He applied for Vanuatu citizenship in 2017, but his application was rejected following adverse findings during background checks. There is no verified evidence that he obtained Vanuatu citizenship. Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, famous for his research on poverty, hunger, famine and welfare economics, has retained Indian citizenship despite spending much of his professional life teaching and working overseas.

Jean Dreze, the Belgian-born economist who became an Indian citizen

Belgian-born economist Jean Drèze, who was recently detained by Delhi Police during a Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest near Jantar Mantar, is well known for his work on rural development, food security and social policy in India. Dreze, who has lived and worked in India for decades, became an Indian citizen in 2002. He has been closely associated with welfare initiatives such as the Right to Food campaign and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Unlike several famous personalities who continue to hold foreign passports while living and working in India, Drèze gave up his Belgian citizenship to become an Indian national. His decision also made him eligible to vote in Indian elections, subject to normal electoral requirements.