2 flats mortgaged, jewellery pawned: Actress Puja Banerjee and husband share their financial troubles amid legal cases with producer
Puja claimed that she had known Shyam for four years and had previously worked on a Bengali film with him, for which she never received full payment. She initially chose to overlook the pending dues out of empathy when he cited personal difficulties. Their relationship grew closer when Shyam shifted to Mumbai and began expressing a desire to break into the Hindi film industry. He pitched a lucrative-sounding deal involving the acquisition of multiple film projects, claiming it required ₹2.25 crore and urging Puja and Kunal to help him arrange ₹1.25 crore, promising them a return of ₹50 lakh.
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When their efforts to find outside investors failed, the couple said Shyam emotionally pressured them to contribute the amount themselves. Desperate to help and trusting his intentions, they borrowed close to ₹1 crore from family and friends. Actor Arjun Bijlani also chipped in. Altogether, they transferred ₹1.68 crore to Shyam—an amount raised by mortgaging Kunal's parents' flat and using their savings.
What followed was silence and avoidance. Despite repeated follow-ups, Shyam allegedly refused to discuss the project or return the money. With lenders expecting repayment, Puja and Kunal were forced to mortgage another flat and even pawn Puja's mother's jewellery to meet their obligations.
Bengali producer's wife filed FIR against Puja and her husband
In May, they attempted to resolve the issue privately in Goa. But instead of progress, they were hit with shocking allegations. Shyam's wife, Malabika Dey, filed a complaint accusing them of kidnapping, extortion, and assault—claims they vehemently deny. According to Puja, the couple stayed in a villa arranged by Shyam because they couldn't afford a hotel and had even received ₹10 lakh from him, which made them hopeful. So the FIR, followed by another zero FIR in Kolkata, later transferred to the Goa police, came as a devastating blow.
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TV actress Puja Banerjee breaks down after cheated off all her life savings by someone she trusted, had to even mortgage her home
The fear of wrongful arrest and the thought of being separated from her child left her sleepless and anxious. She revealed that she has been undergoing treatment for panic attacks and blackouts as a result of the trauma.
Puja and Kunal shared it first on their VLOG
Puja and Kunal first opened up about the financial scam in their YouTube vlog where they revealed that their savings were wiped out by someone very close to them, whom they trusted and considered like family. In a candid vlog, the couple, known for shows like Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna and Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev shared the emotional toll the incident has taken on them. Puja described it as the most difficult period of their lives, while Kunal admitted the betrayal left them shattered.
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