After nearly a decade of silence, businessman Vijay Mallya opened up in a new podcast hosted by entrepreneur Raj Shamani. The four-hour episode touches on his rise, fall, and the controversy surrounding Kingfisher Airlines and his financial dealings.

🔑 Key Highlights:

🛫 On Kingfisher Airlines’ Collapse

“I apologise to everyone for the failure of Kingfisher Airlines.”
Mallya expressed regret and offered a direct apology to former employees.

🚫 On Being Called a ‘Fugitive’

“Call me a fugitive, fine… but I didn’t run away. I left on a planned trip. Where’s the chori?”
He denied fleeing India intentionally and criticized the media narrative.

🏛️ On India’s Business Climate

“There is no ease of doing business in India. It’s in the Indian DNA… there are bureaucratic and political hurdles all the way.”
Mallya called out the Indian regulatory and political system for stifling entrepreneurship.

🔁 On Returning to India

“If I am assured, absolutely I will. I will think about it seriously.”
He hinted at being open to returning—if given legal assurance.

📺 Watch the Podcast

Title: Rise & Downfall of Kingfisher Airlines – Vijay Mallya x Raj Shamani
👉 Watch on YouTube

🧠 Final Thought

Vijay Mallya’s podcast may not clear his name, but it certainly opens a fresh conversation—offering his side of the story for the first time in nearly a decade.