Raj Kundra
Raj Kundra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Raj Kundra 9 September 1975 |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Spouse(s) | Kavita Kundra (divorced) Shilpa Shetty (2009–present) |
| Children | Deleena Kundra (b. 2006) Viaan Raj Kundra (b. 2012) |
| Website | rajkundra.net |
Raj Kundra is a British Indian businessman who also has interests in both cricket and mixed martial arts. He is married to Shilpa Shetty, the Bollywood actress.
Family
His father was a Punjabi who has migrated out from Ludhiana, who worked as a bus conductor in London before becoming a small businessman. His mother worked as a shop assistant.[1]
Life
Raj Kundra was born and raised in London.[2] His ancestors came from Punjab.[3] He left school at the age of 18 and in 2004 was ranked by SUCCESS magazine as the 198th richest British Asian. As of 2009[update], Kundra was Chief Executive Officer of Essential General Trading LLC, which was described in a press release as being "a Dubai-based international trading company dealing in precious metals, construction, mining and green renewable energy projects". He was also at that time involved in the financing and production of Bollywood movies.[3]
Kundra has been married twice. Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty got closer even when he was married to his first wife Kavita Kundra.[4] The ex-wife of Kundra even went on to accuse Shilpa for ruining their marriage. And Raj Kundra finally tied the knot with Shilpa Shetty after divorcing Kavita.[5] and he then married Shilpa Shetty, a Bollywood actress, on 22 November 2009.[6] Their son was born on 21 May 2012.[7]
Kundra is involved with a charitable organisation called the Shilpa Shetty Foundation.[2]
Business
In Nepal, Kundra claims on his website, he discovered the Pashmina shawl[citation needed]. He went back to the UK with some of these. Soon, he was selling them to big chains in Britain. That’s where he claims he made his money. From there, it was on to trading in diamonds, and then a host of businesses that took him to Antwerp in Belgium, the diamond capital of the world, and to Russia.
At present, he is associated with Groupco Developers, a real estate firm that operates in eight Indian cities, Ashwini Steel, which makes mild steel from scrap, TMT Global, which claims to predict stock prices, Essential Sports and Media which is into production and distribution apart from sports, and Iconic Investments, which claims to be a private fund trading in equity markets. There are a few other ventures, too, such as Gold Gate Trading, which describes itself as a trade and investment firm based in Dubai.[1]
Indian Premier League
In 2009 Kundra and Shetty invested in the Indian Premier League cricket team Rajasthan Royals using an offshore company based in Mauritius as the vehicle for doing so. The couple hoped to use Shetty's image and status as a "global brand" as a means of boosting the image of the team through merchandising and media exposure, as well as attracting sponsors.[2][3]
Betting allegations
Kundra was questioned by Delhi Police in June 2013 with regard to the 2013 Indian Premier League spot-fixing case, which had involved the arrest of some Rajasthan Royals players. Kundra admitted to betting and that he had lost huge amounts in doing so on his own team. Investigations continue and he has been asked not to leave the country pending possible further questioning.[8]
Super Fight League
Kundra and Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt together launched India's first professionally organized mixed martial arts fighting league — the Super Fight League - on 16 January 2012.[9]
References
- ^ a b http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130607/news-current-affairs/article/raj-kundra-bus-conductor%E2%80%99s-son-biz-tycoon
- ^ a b c Shah, Gouri (11 February 2009). "It's not about getting the best players, but making the weakest stronger" (PDF). Mint. Delhi. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
- ^ a b c "Rajasthan Royals agrees to take strategic investment from Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty". London: Blenheim Chalcot. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
- ^ http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/CEL-when-raj-kundra-divorced-kavita-kundra-and-married-shilpa-shetty-4284444-PHO.html
- ^ Middlehurst, Lester (31 December 2007). "I didn't break anyone's marriage". The Daily Mail.
- ^ "Thank god, I'll marry only once: Shilpa". The Times Of India. 30 November 2009.
- ^ "Shilpa Shetty gives birth to a baby boy". Rediff. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
- ^ Times News Network (6 June 2013). "Raj Kundra confesses to betting in IPL: Delhi Police". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- ^ Olivera, Roshni. "Ready for the Super Fight League?". The Times Of India. Mumbai. Retrieved 2012-01-19.