Akshay Kumar, who said he has Canadian citizenship, was questioned on social media about winning the National Award. However, filmmaker Rahul Dholakia supported the actor and said that “foreign nationals can get National Awards” On Saturday, several social media users including National award-winning film editor and writer Apurva Asrani questioned Akshay on being a National Award-winner.

Asrani tweeted: “Are Canadian citizens eligible for India’s National Awards? The year Akshay Kumar won ‘Best Actor’, we were expecting Manoj Bajpayee to win for ‘Aligarh’. If the jury/ministry has made an error in Kumar’s case, will there be a revote.”

However following the rulebook of the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation that presents the National Film Awards, under the section of eligibility of a candidate it reads: “Film professionals and technicians of foreign origin can also be considered for awards.

Akshay was honoured with the “Best Actor Award” for ‘Rustom’ in 2016.Earlier this week, the ‘Khiladi’ star faced flak on social media after he interviewed Prime Minister Narendra Modi.