Raj Shamani opens up about controversial Vijay Mallya podcast, reveals how he approached him: ‘Do you know who I am?'

Economic Times

2 days ago

Agencies Raj Shamani recounts his unexpected encounter with Vijay Mallya on 'The Great Indian Kapil Show,' detailing how a casual walk in London led to a groundbreaking four-hour podcast interview.
In an age where public relations walls and layers of management often keep celebrities far from the average creator, Raj Shamani seems to have cracked the code — or rather, stumbled upon it. On an upcoming episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix, YouTuber and podcaster Raj Shamani opens up about one of his biggest career breakthroughs: how he managed to interview the elusive businessman Vijay Mallya. The revelation is both unexpectedly simple and wildly entertaining. 'I was out for a walk in London,' Raj tells host Kapil Sharma in the show's latest trailer. 'I happened to spot him, so I approached him. I asked him, 'Sir, do you know who I am?' He said, 'No.' Then I asked, 'Do you know what a podcast is?' He said, 'No.'' What followed, however, was one of the most talked-about podcast episodes of the year.
Raj's podcast with Vijay Mallya, released in June this year, runs over four hours and covers everything from Mallya's controversial exit from India to his version of the Kingfisher Airlines saga. With over 26 million views, the episode is not just Raj's most-watched video, but also a cultural moment — Mallya had not spoken to any media outlet at such length in years. What adds to the intrigue is the fact that, according to Kapil Sharma on the show, even 'top agencies in the country' had been unable to secure an interview with Mallya. And yet here was Raj, a young creator with over 11.7 million subscribers, who simply relied on initiative and timing rather than official channels.
The episode, which streams this Saturday at 8 PM, will feature a lineup of influential digital voices — Raj Shamani, Saurabh Dwivedi, Kamiya Jani, and Samdish Bhatia — each of whom will share behind-the-scenes anecdotes from their most notable interviews.
The Great Indian Kapil Show, now in its third season and streaming on Netflix, continues to bring a blend of celebrity gossip, comedy, and storytelling. Although it has seen a dip in viewership lately, moments like Raj's candid revelation offer a fresh and authentic charm that could bring back curious audiences.