How One Podcast Interview Changed How People See Vijay Mallya

A few days ago, I randomly clicked on the Vijay Mallya–Raj Shamani podcast episode. Not going to lie, I wasn’t expecting to watch the full four-hour podcast. Because I was somewhat expecting cliches and reheated PR lines, probably just another billionaire trying to clear his name, right? But as it went on, something shifted.

I saw a man—tired, reflective, and for once, not shouting. It wasn’t about champagne or bravado. This interview wasn’t about defending or accusing; there were no fireworks, no arrogance, just a man trying to talk.

@Phunsukwangduji tweeted how the media can destroy someone’s reputation easily:

Raj Shamani is doing what the media in this country should do . He did a tremendous job by doing this podcast
After listening to Malya’s full story I can say
-Don’t judge a story without hearing both sides
-Media can destroy your reputation very easily
-His marketing strategies… pic.twitter.com/Wbx7rVcRfE

— Phunsuk Wangdu (@Phunsukwangduji) June 6, 2025

What made this podcast different?

Mallya wasn’t defensive. Around the 1.5-hour mark, Raj asked, “Do you feel the media killed your character before the courts could even try?”

Vijay paused. Then said: “I felt hunted, yes. I still do. But if I’m given a fair trial, I’ll come back. I haven’t run I’ve only defended myself.”

This felt less like PR and more like a man aware of his limits, yet hoping to reclaim some dignity.

Did it change public opinion?

We have seen business tycoons duck questions, storm out of interviews—but this was not the case with Malya. He was very calm, maybe that is what changed people’s opinion a lot, because it doesn’t erase the damage done. But it complicates the story something the internet rarely allows.

There’s a scene where he directly says:

“Call me a fugitive, sure. But a thief? That word hurts. Because I didn’t steal.”

And suddenly, the “Mallya is a chor” memes didn’t feel so funny. Mallya didn’t raise his voice once. That alone softened how people received his words.

@rohitwattsabh reflected on how his image was painted, and Malya was innocent

After 9 years, @TheVijayMallya has done a podcast with famous podcaster Raj Shamani. Have you all watched it? You should watch it too, it’s absolutely great, he hasn’t done any fraud.

Link is here👇 https://t.co/6XW6QaqIs8#VijayMalya pic.twitter.com/imUS8jevwh

— Rohit Watts (@rohitwattsabh) June 6, 2025

But not all the responses were assertive. For instance, @Pamphlet.in stated it as more of a PR stunt

From ₹7,000 thousand crore scam to podcast sympathy tour Raj Shamani ( @rajshamani ) hands over the mic, not the questions. Watch this video by @SinghRanu18 as she tears apart this glorified PR stunt trying to paint Vijay Mallya ( @TheVijayMallya ) as the victim.
छवि चमकानी है?… pic.twitter.com/e9MkKFsn3x

— The Pamphlet (@Pamphlet_in) June 12, 2025

What does it teach us?

Here’s what I took away from this episode: Tone wins trust. He didn’t pretend to be a hero but rather told his story very calmly. That’s exactly why people listened.

Vulnerability sells when it’s real. The moment he admitted fault, viewers leaned in. His apology to employees stood out precisely because it was unexpected, especially from someone with a reputation like his.

@thekaipullai saw it as more of a polished stunt

Vijay Mallya is once again proving to the world, that In India, as long as you speak polished English, you can get away with anything.

To all the people who think Vijay Mallya is a saint, a victim of circumstance and political vendetta, here are some things you should think…

— The Kaipullai (@thekaipullai) June 7, 2025

Final Takeaway

It’s never just about the story; it’s about how you tell it!

Watching the Raj Shamani and Vijay Mallya conversation reminded me that we live in a world that’s both quick to cancel and quick to forget.

Maybe instead of just “chor,” we now see a failed businessman, or once-powerful, now fallen man. And maybe that’s the biggest shift: from outrage to nuance.

What did you think of the interview? Was it eye-opening or pure PR? Share your thoughts in the comments!