In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, businessman Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, spoke about the aftermath of his 2021 arrest on charges of making and distributing pornographic films. Although he was granted bail, Kundra said he still faces the tag of ‘porn king’ and is awaiting full exoneration. The interview sheds light on the impact of the scandal on his marriage, Shilpa’s professional life, and their son Viaan.
Kundra acknowledged that marrying a celebrity had exacerbated the fallout from the controversy, suggesting that the public scrutiny and backlash would not have been as severe had he not been linked to the Dhadkan starlet. He expressed frustration at the perceived collateral damage, noting that the brunt of the fallout seemed to fall on his wife and children.
The brunt of it
“This all happened because I was married to a celebrity. If I hadn’t done it, I don’t think half of this damage would have been done. I have the impression that they are not attacking me, but my wife and my children. It’s unfair that Shilpa had to bear the brunt of this. If you attack me, no problem, it was collateral damage,” Kundra noted.
Despite being released on bail, Kundra is still referred to as the ‘king of porn’. He revealed that even today, Shilpa faces trolls online, and comments label her as the ‘wife of the porn king’. Kundra expressed his indifference towards the online criticism and emphasized his concern about its impact on Shilpa and her children. He emphasized that trolls do not understand the ongoing legal proceedings.
‘It doesn’t matter to me, but the last thing I want is for my wife and children to read such terms and conditions. Even today, whenever Shilpa posts a Valentine’s Day post, trolls start commenting on ‘the porn king’s wife’… they don’t know the facts! They are not even giving the court a chance to declare whether I am guilty,” Kundra said.
On Shilpa’s career
Elaborating on the impact on the Baazigar actor’s career, Kundra revealed that after her arrest, she suffered professional setbacks and lost several television contracts and jobs. He felt it was unfair for the actress to have to face these consequences, saying public perception required her to maintain a certain standard of silence and dignity.
He revealed: “It was horrible. But luckily, we know each other so well. If someone told me something about him, I knew how much I could believe him. When she heard about the affair, she burst out laughing and said it wasn’t true. If you live together at home and something like porn is involved, you know it.
Kundra continued, “We are both self-taught. She knew it was absurd, but she kept her silence and her dignity. There is a public perception that she had to live up to. Unfortunately, she had to pay the price for my involvement by losing certain contracts and working on television. I thought it was very unfair.
Parenting challenges
The interview also discussed the impact on his son Viaan, who was ten years old when the controversy broke out. Kundra said that Shilpa advised Viaan not to search his father’s name on the internet and protect him from negative publicity. Despite the difficulties, his son remained resilient and showed his support through letters and drawings he sent to Kundra during his time in prison.
The businessman said, “Viaan asked what was wrong, so Shilpa told him, ‘There are hundreds of questions that father has to answer. As soon as he does, he will come back. Viaan was 10 years old. Shilpa was talking to someone “At his school, God knows what parents say to their children. He is a very strong boy. He signed something and gave it to me, in a letter to the prison. He wrote: ‘Daddy misses you, come back soon, finish your work’.
Talking about the loving bond he shares with his son, Kundra said, “For Viaan, I am his hero. Viaan knew his father’s company was in his name, so I wouldn’t do anything wrong. It’s like a bad dream for him.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Kundra remains optimistic about the future and is focused on rebuilding her life. He emphasized the need for a fair judgment from the judiciary and expressed his gratitude for the continued support of his family in these difficult times.
From real life to big screen
The entrepreneur’s 63-day stay at Arthur Road Prison in 2021 after the pornography case prompted him to make his acting debut with UT 69. The biographical satirical drama, directed by Shahnawaz Ali, was released in theaters on November 3 and received poor reception. It was presented as a moving journey into the events that unfolded within the prison walls.
While Kundra initially considered a written account of his incarceration, he realized that the story had taken a cinematic turn. In an interview with ANI, he shared the unexpected development of the project and said, “There were no plans for a film; during this 63-day trip to prison, I wrote a book. My director, who is my friend, took all my notes.
After a month, the director contacted Kundra with a proposal to adapt the gripping story into a film. The decision to give the man himself the leading role was made on the condition that he would play his role. “I believe that the experiences we have in life do not make us good actors. The experiences you have can make you more mature in any field, be it business or a job,” explains Kundra.
The film aimed to provide insight into the harsh reality of life behind bars and provide a satirical commentary on the struggles prisoners face. Kundra highlighted the lack of remorse in the prison system, where individuals struggle to meet basic needs, such as sleep and food. He stressed the importance of providing rehabilitation opportunities to avoid a cycle of incarceration without reform.
“People have internal difficulties sleeping and eating. Either way, there are no regrets. These people will come and talk to each other, and when they come out of prison and there are no reforms, they will just cry,” he said.