Bollywood star Akshay Kumar was made to wait at Heathrow Airport as UK immigration officials checked the details of his Canadian passport.
The 48-year-old flew into London from Mumbai for the shoot of his film 'Rustom' but had to wait an additional hour and a half as the authorities checked the entry requirements to the UK for Canadian nationals yesterday.
"It is being claimed that Akshay was 'detained', which is absolutely incorrect. It was just a delay for which immigration apologised and he went on with his day," a source close to the star told PTI.
Kumar, who is a Canadian national, does not require a visa to travel to the UK for tourism and business purposes for up to 90 days.
It is believed the UK authorities took longer to clarify this "fine-print", during which he was made to wait in the general waiting area at the airport.
His team also denies some media reports which claim the Punjab-born actor tried to assert his stardom to get any kind of special treatment or favours.
They insist he willingly complied with the request of the authorities and was soon out of the airport and is now busy with his shoot in London.
A PTI request to the UK Home Office for a statement on the incident remains pending.
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"Akshay Kumar was not detained at Heathrow airport. He is already shooting for 'Rustom' in London. He was at immigration for barely two minutes. And he left the airport," a statement issued here by the actor's PR team said.
