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Raj Kundra Born Raj KundraLondon, United KingdomOccupation Businessman, EntrepreneurSpouse(s) Kavita Kundra (divorced)Shilpa Shetty (2009–present)Children 2Website rajkundra.net

Raj Kundra is a British businessman who also has interests in both cricket and mixed martial arts. He is married to Shilpa Shetty, a Bollywood actress.

Life Raj Kundra's father was a Punjabi who migrated from Ludhiana and became a bus conductor in London before running a small business. His mother worked as a shop assistant.[1]

Kundra was born and raised in London.[2] 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, first to Kavita and then on 22 November 2009 to the Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.[4][5] Kundra and Shetty have a son, born on 21 May 2012.[6]

Kundra is involved with a charitable organisation called the Shilpa Shetty Foundation.[2] His book titled How Not to Make Money was published in 2013.[7]

Business Kundra 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. Other ventures include Gold Gate Trading, which describes itself as a trade and investment firm based in Dubai.[1]

In 2015, Kundra was among the promoters of online and television broadcast platform Best Deal TV, an Indian television home shopping channel capitalising on celebrity endorsements. His co-promoter was Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. [8]

Indian Premier League Main article: Rajasthan Royals

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]

In June 2013, Kundra was questioned by Delhi Police with regard to the 2013 Indian Premier League spot-fixing case, which had involved the arrest of some Rajasthan Royals players. Kundra admitted that he had bet on his own team and lost huge amounts in doing so.[9] In July 2015 a panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India imposed a life ban from cricket matches on him.[10]

Super Fight League

Kundra and Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt together launched India's first professional mixed martial arts fighting league — the Super Fight League - on 16 January 2012.[11]

References

1 2 "Raj Kundra, from bus conductor’s son to biz tycoon". Deccan Chronicle. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 2015-06-12. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 "Rajasthan Royals agrees to take strategic investment from Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty". London: Blenheim Chalcot. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 2011-12-27. ↑ 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. ↑ "Raj Kundra's book now a British crime-thriller". The_Times_of_India. Retrieved 2015-08-19. ↑ "Home shopping channel Best Deal TV to raise Rs 100 cr". Business_Standard. Retrieved 2015-05-20. ↑ Times News Network (6 June 2013). "Raj Kundra confesses to betting in IPL: Delhi Police". The Times of India. Retrieved 2013-06-06. ↑ Dave, Harshil. "CSK, RR suspended from IPL for 2 yrs; life ban on Kundra, Meiyappan". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2015-07-15. ↑ Olivera, Roshni. "Ready for the Super Fight League?". The Times Of India (Mumbai). Retrieved 2012-01-19.