Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Adnan Sami Describes Life Changes After Indian Citizenship
Adnan Sami is a singer and composer who built his music career in India.
He first came to India in 2001.
At that time, he was a Pakistani citizen.
He says he could find work in India even before becoming an Indian citizen.
His Pakistani passport expired in 2015 and was not renewed.
He then applied to stay in India on humanitarian grounds.
India granted him citizenship on January 1, 2016.
Sami says becoming Indian changed his life and made him feel that India was his home.
He also says India and other important people helped his music career.
Adnan Sami said finding work in India was never difficult while he was a Pakistani citizen.
He said many things changed after he became an Indian citizen on January 1, 2016.
Sami first arrived in India in March 2001 and later applied for legal status on humanitarian grounds.
The Ministry of Home Affairs granted him citizenship through naturalization under Section 6(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
He credited India, Asha Bhosle, and the country’s music industry with supporting his career; he received the Padma Shri in 2020.
- Who
- Singer and composer Adnan Sami, with comments discussed by trade analyst Komal Nahta.
- What
- Sami described how receiving Indian citizenship changed his life and career in India.
- When
- He became an Indian citizen on January 1, 2016; he discussed the change in a later interview.
- Where
- India, where Sami developed his music career after arriving in March 2001.
- Why
- He sought legal status in India after his Pakistani passport expired and was not renewed, and he had previously cited limited opportunities in Pakistan’s music industry.
- Citizenship date
- January 1, 2016
- First arrival in India
- March 2001
- Citizenship route
- Naturalization under Section 6(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955
- Legal basis for application
- Humanitarian grounds after his Pakistani passport was not renewed
- Major breakthrough
- The album “Kabhi To Nazar Milao”
- National honor
- Padma Shri, awarded in 2020
- Interview program
- “Game Changers: The Music Series”