Bollywood powerhouse Akshay Kumar is to be the latest celebrity to set up home in Dubai, following in the footsteps of his film industry brethren, including Shah Rukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty and the Bachchans.
The actor confirmed the same on the side-lines of his visit to the emirate earlier this week to promote the romantic gangster drama, ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara’, along with co-stars Sonakshi Sinha and Imran Khan.
The film promotions concluded with a personal invite from Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum at his home, for an extended Eid celebration, where Kumar confirmed the development. The actor said: “Dubai is such a dynamic city and so welcoming that it almost feels like a second home now, considering the number of times we have been here.
“This is the reason why we have decided to purchase a home here. In fact, while I was busy with the film promotions, my wife Tina has been looking at properties here all day.” Kumar’s love for Dubai was reflected in his next words, where he said: “You know, there are so many Indians and Pakistanis here, the environment is so comforting that it feels like I haven’t even left home. “If my family were to shift anywhere, this is the home we would like to move to permanently.” Kumar, who is married to yesteryear actress Twinkle Khanna, and has two children Aarav and Nitara, didn’t confirm whether Dubai was to become a permanent home for the Bollywood family any time soon though.
Moving next to the Bachchans? Kumar’s move comes at a sound time where real estate prices are only expected to soar further as Dubai waits on the cusp of the November announcement of the emirate’s bid for hosting the World Expo 2020. In the last few years, several Indian film celebrities have set up a second home in the city, with ‘Chennai Express’ superstar Shah Rukh Khan being one of the pioneers with his allegedly ‘gifted’ villa on the VIP frond of The Palm Jumeirah, aptly called ‘Jannat’. Following in his footsteps, Kumar’s former girlfriend and wife to billionaire entrepreneur Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty, snapped up a sprawling spread in the Burj Khalifa, with Southern icon Mohanlal incidentally as her neighbour; Mohanlal also owns a property in the Arabian Ranches.
