Vijay Mallya Podcast Summary: After decades of silence, Vijay Mallya made an appearance on a media platform in a marathon podcast interview with Raj Shamani, one of India’s most followed voices from Gen Z. For 4.3 hours, Mallya regaled his followers with what was his side of the story—of not being a fraud, but being the butt of some bad timing, plain bad luck. Instead, buried within his emotional bombshells was a sort of carefully orchestrated image rehabilitation, cleverly disguised as a straightforward confession. And still, the most essential question was left unresolved: Why, exactly, did he leave India?
Podcast Summary – The When, Where, and Who
Hosted by successful influencer and entrepreneur Raj Shamani, the podcast hit YouTube on June 8th, 2025. A renowned interview and authoring platform for celebrities and business stalwarts, Shamani provided Mallya a forum to tell his side of the story.
The discussion touched upon everything — his business school glory days, tricycle sales, politics, and then Kingfisher’s demise, as well as his exile in the UK. It was an emotionally fraught and strategically crafted monologue that lasted more than 258 minutes.
Top 5 Confessions – What Shocked the Viewers
- “I never fled the country.”: Mallya maintained that he didn’t sneak out, but left with acquiescence from the authorities. “It was no secret that I left,” he said, accusing the media of vilifying him.
- “And I invested ₹4,000 crore of my own money in Kingfisher”: He urged his audience not to accept that no raider uses their own money to save a company on the brink of collapse, rather than steal from it, and positioned himself as a victim, not a perpetrator.
- “Enrique Iglesias performed at my birthday but I wasn’t partying.“: He defended his famous party in Goa, claiming it was not a party at all , but an event on his calendar for a long time, funded by sponsors, not him.
- “They call me a runaway — where is the ‘chor’?”: His most viral comment: Mallya dismissed his critics to prove their charge of theft, painting his actions as business risks gone wrong.
- “I have paid back ₹14,000 crore — what more do you want?”: With a claim that ₹14,131 crore in assets have been recovered, he contended that he has done his part, blaming the banking system for not addressing the issue.
Business Red Flags & The Collapse of Kingfisher Airlines
The fall of Kingfisher was not just a matter of bad luck. Mallya’s vision of transforming the airline into a luxury brand clashed with the fundamentals of the aviation business: a fickle, high-margin industry.
His corporate structure overcame regulators by acquiring Air Deccan, but the answer to that also backfired internally. What we do know is that when it comes to injecting a little luxury into low-cost branding, mixing French and American culture backfires.
At the same time, he was far too over-diversified — IPL’s Royal Challengers Bangalore, Force India F1 team, and even launching the Kingfisher Calendar. These distractions sapped attention and money.
To add to the difficulty, Kingfisher expanded internationally as the 2008 financial crisis intensified, which sent the business spiraling.
Quotes That Went Viral – Mallya’s Soundbites
- “Where is the choir?” – Timestamp: 1:14:10
- “My bad luck was the only culprit” – Timestamp: 2:03:45
- “Enrique sang at my birthday, but I was worried about my staff” – Timestamp: 3:25:11
- “Nobody talks about how much I paid back” – Timestamp: 3:52:00
These lines set online chatter ablaze — some found them manipulative, while others understood them as humanizing.
What Vijay Mallya Said About the Indian Banking System
Mallya depicted Indian banks as reckless lenders that extended loans in haste, only to turn on him under pressure from the media and politicians.
He stated that his loans had been sanctioned based on robust business projections and that the banks were aware of all of Kingfisher’s plans. “If I’m guilty, they are too,” he suggested.
However, he remained silent on charges of fund diversion, including over-invoicing of aircraft leases and non-payment of service taxes.
Public Reaction & Media Response
The video that broke the internet also broke the chain of reaction:
- Supporters echoed that sentiment of resignation, expressing sympathy for his plight and a general belief that he was pursued more for the optics than for his actual crimes.
- Critics called the podcast a savvy PR move, pointing out that its host, Raj Shamani, held back from pressing Mallya on certain fraud allegations.
- Media recounted it in headlines such as “4.3-hour spin job” and parsed each claim for contradictions and covert motives.
Social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), was on fire with memes, hot takes, and heated threads.
Final Thoughts – Misunderstood or Master Manipulator?
Mallya hopes to portray himself as a forward-looking businessman victimized by destiny and an inefficient system. However, what’s missing from his story is accountability.
He talked and talked, all around the subject: Why do I leave, if I have nothing to hide?
The interview has divided viewers — some now see a misunderstood entrepreneur, while others see it as textbook image manipulation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. How can I listen to the Vijay Mallya podcast?
A. The entire 4.3-hour speech from the channel “My Side of the Story – Vijay Mallya Tells All” has been shared by Raj Shamani in the caption.
Q. What is the statement of Vijay Mallya about Kingfisher Airlines?
A. He said he had put in his own money, blamed the 2008 financial crisis, and stated that the airline’s collapse had not been a criminal act, but rather one that was unavoidable due to the circumstances.
Q. Will Vijay Mallya return to India?
A. No return has been catalyzed yet. He remains in the UK, where he is resisting extradition and legal proceedings.
