`Nobody should doubt your patriotism and your commitment to the nation,' Vajpayee told the actor during the 30-minute meeting, adding it was upto him to decide whether to surrender the award, sources in the Prime Minister's Office said.

Vajpayee also said that nobody should put pressure on Kumar who had served the nation throughout his long film career. The actor was has been in the centre of controversy after the Shiv Sena demanded that he return the award in the wake of the Kargil conflict which was also supported by some other parties.