Raj Kundra Breaks Silence: Confronting the 'Porn King' Stigma, Criticizing Slow Judicial Process and Condemning Attacks on Family
On September 21, 2021, Raj Kundra 's world came crashing down like a house of cards despite having a beautiful wife, two lovely kids, and a comfortable, lavish lifestyle. His alleged offense? The creation and distribution of pornographic material.
Three years have passed, and at 48, he still awaits the return of normalcy to his life.“I am waiting for my discharge, clean chit to come. It’s a matter reserved for order. It can happen anytime now, and will be one of the greatest news of my life. It will be a relief for the family. The perception is made, damage is done. That’s how it is going to be,” he remarks as we settle in for a conversation at his home in Mumbai.
Breaking the Silence Now
Kundra's desire to openly address everything that transpired in the last three years stems from his ongoing pursuit of justice. His lawyer, Prashant Patil, released a statement in December 2023 which read, “... the records of the case clearly show that the prosecution is intentionally delaying the judicial proceedings for reasons best known to them. This has infringed the Fundamental Rights of my client Mr Raj Kundra.”
Kundra says to us, “I am a bit disappointed with the slow system we have today. I was not expecting any privilege. I am, like thousands of people waiting for my case to be heard. Luckily my case has got to a point where it is reserved for order now. My bail happened from the Lower Court so I am fighting from there.”
Since the case began, the label that has relentlessly clung to the UK-born businessman is ' porn king .' Kundra candidly addresses this, stating, “It all happened because I am married to a celebrity. If I was not, I don’t think half this damage would have been done. I feel they weren’t getting at me, but my wife and kids. It’s really unfair that Shilpa had to bear the brunt of it. You attack me, no issues, she was collateral damage,”
Even after being released on bail and attempting to resume a normal life, he finds himself incessantly harassed by trolls. Kundra reveals, “I delete and block trolls on social media, I don’t care. But the last thing I want is my wife and kids reading terms like this. Even today, when Shilpa posts a Valentine’s message, trolls start commenting ‘porn king’s wife’... they don’t know the facts! They are not even giving the judiciary a chance to announce whether I am guilty. took a sabbatical from everything, was seen less at events for two years. Then a friend approached me saying they want to make a film based on the notes I wrote while inside the jail, which ultimately became the 2023 film UT69.”
‘I HAD SEEN THE CONTENT ON THE APP’
Kundra asserts that his sole engagement was through his company, named after his son Viaan, which was rendering services to Kenrin, a company owned by his brother-in-law. This company possessed the app Hotshots.
“Gehna Vashishtha (actor who was arrested as well in connection with the pornography case) claimed that cops forced her to give a statement. That says a lot. It’s easy for her to say ‘Raj ne karaya’ and walk out free. But she didn’t and I appreciate the integrity,” he asserts.
“I had seen some of it, on and off. I never had any reason to believe that anything’s there... it sounds like I am the kingpin, and as if I have nothing else to do than this one app. We provided software solutions. It was contractual. Today when you shoot porn, you won’t have contracts between two people. You will say chup chaap banao and upload it,” he reasons.
While the movie was perceived as an effort to portray Raj in a more relatable light, there persists a belief that the businessman likely used bribery to secure his bail or obtain a favorable verdict if acquitted. “I read comments like ‘khareed liya hoga’. Agar mujhe paise dene hote, toh main jail ke andar hi nahi jaana chahta! I stood my ground and said I won’t pay a penny under the table. It is easy to pay off people. While I was in jail, a lot of dubious people approached my family and said we can get Raj out of this, pay this amount. Even when I get a clean chit, it will be said paisa khilaya hoga,” he rues.
When Kundra tied the knot with Shilpa on November 22, 2009, it marked a significant milestone in their lives. However, when events of such gravity unfold, relationships often face the brunt. How did the dynamics between the couple evolve amidst Kundra's arrest?
He says, “It was horrible. But luckily, we know each other so well. If someone told me something about her, I know how much to believe. She broke into a laughter when she heard about the case and said it’s not true. If you are living at home together and there is something like porn involved, you would know. We are both self made. She knew it’s rubbish but maintained her silence and dignity. There is a public perception she had to live up to. Unfortunately, she bore the brunt of me being involved by losing certain contracts, work on television. I found that very unfair.”
The 64 days Raj spent behind bars left a lasting mark, prompting him to seek professional assistance for his mental well-being. “I didn’t want to, but I was a wreck. Shilpa insisted that I go to a professional. In my sleep, I would hear 250 people murmuring all night, because in jail you sleep in noise. There is lack of food, you are living on watered dal, grains of rice, biscuit with water. I lost 17 kgs in 60 days. Someone at a certain level should be able to get things sorted for him. It hit me like a ton of bricks, the anxiety killed me for a while. Shilpa used to tell me to breathe once outside. She was my calming factor,” he says.
Kundra becomes emotional when questioned about the time of the incident. While his daughter was too young to understand, his son was growing up and becoming increasingly aware. He reveals that Shilpa had advised Viaan against Googling his father's name.
He reveals, “Viaan asked what’s happening, so Shilpa told him ‘there are hundreds of questions dad has to answer. Once he does, he will be back’… Viaan was 10. Shilpa spoke to someone at his school, god knows what parents were telling their children. He is a rock solid kid. He would draw something and send it to me with a letter in jail. He would write ‘papa missing you, come back soon, finish your work’. The first two-three weeks he was fine. Then on my birthday, September 9, 2021, I heard a choke in his voice, and he broke down. I remember sobbing. Aur jail aisi jagah hai the moment you let your guard down, they make fun and take advantage of you. Chadar leke rona padhta hai. For Viaan, I am his hero. Viaan knew his dad’s company is on his name, I would do no wrong. For him, it’s like a bad dream.”
Three years have passed, and at 48, he still awaits the return of normalcy to his life.“I am waiting for my discharge, clean chit to come. It’s a matter reserved for order. It can happen anytime now, and will be one of the greatest news of my life. It will be a relief for the family. The perception is made, damage is done. That’s how it is going to be,” he remarks as we settle in for a conversation at his home in Mumbai.
Breaking the Silence Now
Kundra's desire to openly address everything that transpired in the last three years stems from his ongoing pursuit of justice. His lawyer, Prashant Patil, released a statement in December 2023 which read, “... the records of the case clearly show that the prosecution is intentionally delaying the judicial proceedings for reasons best known to them. This has infringed the Fundamental Rights of my client Mr Raj Kundra.”
Kundra says to us, “I am a bit disappointed with the slow system we have today. I was not expecting any privilege. I am, like thousands of people waiting for my case to be heard. Luckily my case has got to a point where it is reserved for order now. My bail happened from the Lower Court so I am fighting from there.”
Since the case began, the label that has relentlessly clung to the UK-born businessman is ' porn king .' Kundra candidly addresses this, stating, “It all happened because I am married to a celebrity. If I was not, I don’t think half this damage would have been done. I feel they weren’t getting at me, but my wife and kids. It’s really unfair that Shilpa had to bear the brunt of it. You attack me, no issues, she was collateral damage,”
Even after being released on bail and attempting to resume a normal life, he finds himself incessantly harassed by trolls. Kundra reveals, “I delete and block trolls on social media, I don’t care. But the last thing I want is my wife and kids reading terms like this. Even today, when Shilpa posts a Valentine’s message, trolls start commenting ‘porn king’s wife’... they don’t know the facts! They are not even giving the judiciary a chance to announce whether I am guilty. took a sabbatical from everything, was seen less at events for two years. Then a friend approached me saying they want to make a film based on the notes I wrote while inside the jail, which ultimately became the 2023 film UT69.”
‘I HAD SEEN THE CONTENT ON THE APP’
Kundra asserts that his sole engagement was through his company, named after his son Viaan, which was rendering services to Kenrin, a company owned by his brother-in-law. This company possessed the app Hotshots.
“Gehna Vashishtha (actor who was arrested as well in connection with the pornography case) claimed that cops forced her to give a statement. That says a lot. It’s easy for her to say ‘Raj ne karaya’ and walk out free. But she didn’t and I appreciate the integrity,” he asserts.
“I had seen some of it, on and off. I never had any reason to believe that anything’s there... it sounds like I am the kingpin, and as if I have nothing else to do than this one app. We provided software solutions. It was contractual. Today when you shoot porn, you won’t have contracts between two people. You will say chup chaap banao and upload it,” he reasons.
While the movie was perceived as an effort to portray Raj in a more relatable light, there persists a belief that the businessman likely used bribery to secure his bail or obtain a favorable verdict if acquitted. “I read comments like ‘khareed liya hoga’. Agar mujhe paise dene hote, toh main jail ke andar hi nahi jaana chahta! I stood my ground and said I won’t pay a penny under the table. It is easy to pay off people. While I was in jail, a lot of dubious people approached my family and said we can get Raj out of this, pay this amount. Even when I get a clean chit, it will be said paisa khilaya hoga,” he rues.
When Kundra tied the knot with Shilpa on November 22, 2009, it marked a significant milestone in their lives. However, when events of such gravity unfold, relationships often face the brunt. How did the dynamics between the couple evolve amidst Kundra's arrest?
He says, “It was horrible. But luckily, we know each other so well. If someone told me something about her, I know how much to believe. She broke into a laughter when she heard about the case and said it’s not true. If you are living at home together and there is something like porn involved, you would know. We are both self made. She knew it’s rubbish but maintained her silence and dignity. There is a public perception she had to live up to. Unfortunately, she bore the brunt of me being involved by losing certain contracts, work on television. I found that very unfair.”
The 64 days Raj spent behind bars left a lasting mark, prompting him to seek professional assistance for his mental well-being. “I didn’t want to, but I was a wreck. Shilpa insisted that I go to a professional. In my sleep, I would hear 250 people murmuring all night, because in jail you sleep in noise. There is lack of food, you are living on watered dal, grains of rice, biscuit with water. I lost 17 kgs in 60 days. Someone at a certain level should be able to get things sorted for him. It hit me like a ton of bricks, the anxiety killed me for a while. Shilpa used to tell me to breathe once outside. She was my calming factor,” he says.
Kundra becomes emotional when questioned about the time of the incident. While his daughter was too young to understand, his son was growing up and becoming increasingly aware. He reveals that Shilpa had advised Viaan against Googling his father's name.
He reveals, “Viaan asked what’s happening, so Shilpa told him ‘there are hundreds of questions dad has to answer. Once he does, he will be back’… Viaan was 10. Shilpa spoke to someone at his school, god knows what parents were telling their children. He is a rock solid kid. He would draw something and send it to me with a letter in jail. He would write ‘papa missing you, come back soon, finish your work’. The first two-three weeks he was fine. Then on my birthday, September 9, 2021, I heard a choke in his voice, and he broke down. I remember sobbing. Aur jail aisi jagah hai the moment you let your guard down, they make fun and take advantage of you. Chadar leke rona padhta hai. For Viaan, I am his hero. Viaan knew his dad’s company is on his name, I would do no wrong. For him, it’s like a bad dream.”
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