Behind Diljit Dosanjh’s 'Never' To Politics? He's No Longer An Indian Citizen, But A US National Now

Last Updated:May 14, 2026, 08:27 IST

Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh acquired US citizenship in 2022 and has reportedly been travelling to India on a US passport and e-visa since then, a report has claimed.

Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh acquired United States citizenship in 2022 and has been travelling on a US passport since September that year, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The report stated that Dosanjh is no longer an Indian citizen. It added that he has been travelling to India on an e-visa since September 2022, which sources told the newspaper indicates that he does not hold an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

According to the report, Dosanjh’s last Indian passport was issued in Mumbai in 2018, while an earlier passport had been issued in Zambia.

It also claimed that his spouse, Sandeep Kaur, is a US national and that he had listed a five-bedroom bungalow in California as his residential address while acquiring American citizenship.

The disclosure comes amid speculation over Dosanjh potentially entering Punjab politics after a civil society group appealed to him to take up a leadership role in the state.

According to news agency PTI, a group called Jaago Punjab Manch, comprising retired bureaucrats, Army personnel and professionals, had publicly urged the singer to enter politics, describing him as the kind of leader a “cash-strapped, drug-affected" Punjab needs.

Dosanjh, however, firmly rejected the idea.

Sharing a report on X, he wrote, “Kadey v Nhi… Mera Kam Entertainment Karna. Am Very Happy in My Field. Thank You So Much."

Later, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, reacting to the speculation, alleged that the BJP was “pressurising" Dosanjh to join politics.

Mann claimed that after actor-politician C Joseph Vijay’s electoral success in Tamil Nadu, political parties had begun looking at celebrities as potential mass leaders.

The Chief Minister further referred to Dosanjh’s social media post, reiterating that the singer had made it clear he was happy in the entertainment industry.

INDIAN CITIZENSHIP WOULD BE NEEDED FOR POLITICAL ROLE

The Express report noted that even if Dosanjh were to reconsider his decision in the future, he would first need to regain Indian citizenship before formally entering politics in India.

Referring to Section 6 of the Indian Citizenship Act, the newspaper reported that a foreign national seeking Indian citizenship must fulfil residency conditions, including a total stay of 12 years in India before applying.

The report added that applicants are also required to have continuous residence during the immediately preceding 12 months and residence for 11 of the previous 14 years.

KHALISTAN ROW AND SECURITY CONCERNS

The issue has surfaced against the backdrop of recent controversies involving the singer during his international concerts.

The Express report said Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had threatened Dosanjh after he objected to pro-Khalistan flag-waving during concerts in Vancouver and Calgary.

PTI had earlier reported that Dosanjh was seen confronting protesters during a concert in Canada, where he told people waving flags to stop creating a nuisance and continue elsewhere if they wished to protest.

A report also claimed that during a concert in Calgary, Dosanjh halted his performance to ask individuals waving pro-Khalistan flags to take them elsewhere and use the venue “for the purpose it is intended for."

Dosanjh later described attempts to disrupt his concerts as a “fake narrative" and said he would not tolerate harassment of his fans.

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