New Delhi: Renowned Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has turned down an appeal to enter politics in Punjab, and the reason might be that he is not an Indian citizen. According to an Indian Express report, the ‘Main Hoon Punjab’ singer has held American citizenship since 2022, despite being deeply connected with his Punjab roots.
Diljit Dosanjh is not Indian citizen
According to the publication’s report, Diljit Dosanjh obtained US citizenship in 2022 and has been travelling to India using an e-visa for nearly four years now. His previous Indian passport was reportedly issued in Mumbai in 2018, while the older passport had been issued in Zambia. According to sources, the actor-singer does not possess an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card. Reports also state that his wife, Sandeep Kaur, is a US citizen. Diljit had also allegedly listed a luxury property in California as his residential address to secure his American nationality.
The revelation comes days after a Punjab-based group of retired bureaucrats, defence veterans, and professionals publicly appealed to the singer to step into politics. The organisation described Punjab as being in decline under the repeated governments and suggested that Dosanjh could emerge as a fresh political face.
Can Diljit Dosanjh enter politics in future?
However, the actor quickly denied the proposal. He also took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify that politics was never part of his plans, adding that he is happy focusing on entertainment and music. If the singer changes his mind in the future about entering politics, Indian citizen laws could complicate matters as the law states under Section 6 of the Indian Citizenship Act, a foreign citizen can apply for Indian citizenship only after living in India for at least 12 years, including one continuous year immediately before submitting the application.
Diljit Dosanjh courts controversy
Earlier, Diljit Dosanjh courted controversy after Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun reportedly targeted the actor after he distanced himself from pro-Khalistan slogans and flag displays during concerts in Canada.
Meanwhile, Diljit Dosanjh gained popularity over the years through his Punjabi songs and movies. Over the years, he expanded into Bollywood and gained fame through international concerts. He gained much recognition for his film Udta Punjab and became the first Indian artist to feature on the Billboard Social 50 chart in 2020. Recently, he made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he spoke about Punjab culture, Sikh history, and his journey to fame.