Akshay Kumar is giving dinner diplomacy an entirely new meaning

Akshay Kumar is giving dinner diplomacy an entirely new meaning. In Toronto tonight, once the weekend G8 and G20 Summits of world leaders in search of common ground on economics, health, security and other issues are over, the Bollywood Khiladi will take centrestage. And, at the Presidential House in Toronto, Akshay will host a dinner for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to which the chief celebrant will be Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh!

Yes, this does sound strange, but it is happening all right. And Akshay, who is on vacation in New York with wife Tina and son Aarav, has dashed across to Toronto to bring the two Prime Ministers together. Nobody else will be invited though the leaders of all superpowers will be around.

The actor has close ties with Canada. He has extensively shot in that nation and runs a Cancer Ward in the Trillium Hospital of Toronto ever since he lost his father, Hari Om Bhatia, to cancer there. Recently, he was honoured by Canada by being made the torch bearer of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Stephen Harper, who on a visit to India showed his appreciation for the actor’s involvement by accepting a dinner invitation extended by Akshay, is now reciprocating the gesture at his official residence. Akshay, naturally, is thrilled. “Canada has always been a home away from home for me,” he said, “and now to be on Canadian soil sharing the stage and this glorious moment with our revered Prime Minister and the Canadian Prime Minister is a dream come true. Truly a time when I feel proud to be an Indian.”