Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is vacationing in the Maldives, despite having publicly called for a boycott of the country earlier this year. A frequent visitor to the Maldives, Akshay arrived at a luxury island resort on November 1st, marking his first visit since January, when he joined a social media campaign urging Indians to avoid the Maldives as a travel destination.

Akshay’s stance in January was triggered by what he described as “hateful and racist” comments directed toward Indians and the Indian Prime Minister by certain Maldivians, including three Deputy Ministers. At the time, he posted: “I came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists... dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism.”

Since then, relations between the Maldives and India have notably improved, with President Muizzu’s diplomatic outreach to India. The Maldives president’s recent visit included meetings with political leaders, industry influencers, and Bollywood stars, marking a shift in the diplomatic relationship.

Akshay’s return to the Maldives has drawn attention, with some interpreting it as a positive sign of renewed ties, while others question the initial motives behind the Indian social media boycott campaign.