Was Akshay Kumar detained at Heathrow Airport?

A well-placed source denies reports that Akshay Kumar was made to wait at the airport in London due to visa issues .

Unconfirmed reports indicated on Thursday that actor Akshay Kumar was detained by immigration authorities at London’s Heathrow Airport on Wednesday for not having a valid visa. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, the actor, who arrived in London for the shoot of his upcoming film Rustom, was made to wait for over an hour-and-a-half at the airport and had to sit in the general holding area where detained passengers are made to wait.

Actor Akshay Kumar was detained at Heathrow Airport for not having a valid visa. The actor arrived in London to shoot for his upcoming film, but was made to wait at the airport. (AFP)

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A well-placed source from the production house, however, rubbishes the reports, “It has to be the silliest piece of news! How can one come to UK and not have a visa? Even if one says, they are friends with the Queen, they will still send you home, if you don’t have your visa in order. Is Akshay the most influential person to have got it all sorted in an hour? These reports are highly exaggerated. The officials took some time checking the paper work because their computer wasn’t reflecting the visa status. But they eventually checked the papers, which were all in order, and then everyone was good to go. Akshay sir has been shooting, which would have been impossible if there was a glitch in the visa status.”

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According to the report, the problem arose when Akshay was asked the purpose of his visit. Akshay also holds a Canadian citizenship and the rules state that a Canadian national is allowed to visit the UK on a tourist visa, but as Akshay was in London for a shoot, he needed a visa stamp.