RAJ Kundra is married to iconic Bollywood actress and former Celebrity Big Brother star Shipla Shetty.
The 45-year-old business man was born and raised in London but later made his $550 million fortune in Dubai.
Who is Raj Kundra?
Raj Kundra was born to father, Bal Krishan Kundra, and mother Usha Rani Kundra.
Bal was a middle-class businessman and Usha worked a shop assistant when Raj was a youngster.
At the age of 18 he left home and moved to Dubai, and then Nepal, where he started his business selling pashmina shawls.
The successful entrepreneur steadily rose up the ranks within the industry and by 2007 had set up Essential General Trading LLC.
This company made their wealth by dealing in precious metals, mining, construction and renewable energy projects.
Raj also branched out and tried his hand at financing and Bollywood film production.
The dad-of-three has been connected to several other corporations, including Essential Sports and Media, Iconic Investments and a private fund trading in equity markets.
He has accumulated wealth through his interest in a Mumbai restaurant chain, Bastian Hospitality.
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Raj became Chairman and Non Executive Director of Viaan Industries in 2014, as well as starting Super Fight League – pioneering India's first professional mixed martial arts fight in the league.
The 45-year-old has appeared on TV, becoming one of the promoters of Best deal TV – a home shopping channel in India.
It's also been reported he earns money as CEO of J L Stream PVT Ltd, which covers social media live streaming platforms.
With all of these business projects, Raj had an estimated networth of $550million, according to Bollywood Shaadis.
However, it is now estimated to be between $350 to $400 million, following his arrest in 2021.
He married one of the most well known and loved Bollywood stars, Shipla Shetty.
Shetty shot to fame in Britain during the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother and eventually won the series.
The high profile pair tied the knot in 2009 and they share a son together, called Viaan Raj Kundra.
In 2020 the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Samisha Shetty Kundra.
They used to own the Indian Premier League cricket team together,the Rajsthan Royals.
Raj has a daughter called Deleena with his first wife Kavita Kundra.
Why was Raj Kundra arrested?
Raj Kundra was arrested after allegedly luring a woman into making a porn film with the promise of an acting job.
The 45-year-old was described by the authorities as the "key conspirator" in an adult film production ring.
NDTV previously reported nine arrests were made in the investigation.
The Mumbai police commissioner said in a statement: "We've arrested Raj Kundra in this case… as he appears to be the key conspirator of this. We have sufficient evidence regarding this."
Their probe was launched after a woman went to cops and reported she had been forced into making a porn film under the guise of landing an acting role afterwards, according to the Press Trust of India.
At a remand hearing in court in 2021, the investigating officer alleged that "all the accused used to lure struggling models and actresses," reported Times Now News.
Kundra, who lives in Mumbai, faced charges of cheating and "obscene and indecent advertisements and displays".
Publishing or transmitting "obscene" material including porn is illegal in India and punishable by up to seven years in jail.
He was released on bail in September 2022 and has since made his come back on social media after two years.
The 45-year-old had deleted his Instagram account following the X-rated films scandal.
Yesterday he posted a video for the first time since 2021, with the caption: "Jai Shri Ganesh. He's back. Well wishers your love makes me stronger, haters your hate makes me unstoppable. Karma is efficient I am just being patient. Ganpati Bappa Morya. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi."
Supportive wife Shipla commented: "Stay blessed and protected always."
His daughter also penned: "Love you jiju."
The short clip showed Raj and Shipla together welcoming home Bappa, ahead of Ganeshotsav – a Hindu festival in celebration of the birth of Hindu god Ganesha.
Why does Raj Kundra wear mask?
Raj is recognizes for concealing his face with a mask when he's out in public.
Last year the successful businessman revealed why he wears them.
In a post of X/Twitter, he wrote: "I don’t wear my mask for friends and fans. I wear it for media, that’s all they will get of me from now."
He responded to another user who asked about his fashion choice and explained: "I am not wearing it for public, just don’t wish to give media a chance to click my face.
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"I am hurt by the media trial they put me through. Media is not above the law."
The 45-year-old made light of the ordeal and joked that his wardrobe is overflowing with masks now.
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