Renowned singer Adnan Sami, born in Pakistan and now a beloved musical icon in India, shared a deeply emotional story on the Indian talk show Aap Ki Adalat. He revealed that Pakistan denied him a visa to attend his mother’s funeral in 2024, forcing him to watch the final rites over WhatsApp video.
Sami, who became an Indian citizen in 2016, said he immediately received support from the Indian government to travel after his mother’s passing. However, despite his urgent appeal, Pakistani authorities refused his visa request due to his changed citizenship status.
The singer, known for his soulful Bollywood hits, expressed deep sorrow over being barred from saying goodbye to his mother in person. “I didn’t leave Pakistan for money,” Sami said. “I left behind crores worth of property. What I needed was love—and I found that in India.”
Adnan, whose father once served in the Pakistani Army, noted that his connection with India is emotional, not political. Though born Pakistani and briefly holding Canadian citizenship, his artistic identity and career blossomed in India. Since receiving Indian citizenship under the Modi government, he has embraced India as his permanent home and was honored with the Padma Shri.
His story sheds light on the personal toll of cross-border tensions and highlights the emotional complexities faced by artists with divided roots.
