What’s Akshay Kumar’s stake in Shilpa Shetty’s troubled Best Deal TV launch

In 2015, Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty put aside their past differences to collaborate on a business venture called Best Deal TV, a celebrity-based teleshopping channel. The channel aimed to feature celebrities promoting products and sharing profits.

Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty's husband, was also a key partner in the venture.

What was the concept?

Best Deal TV was designed to sell lifestyle, health, fashion and beauty products, with a focus on Indian-made goods except for mobile phones. The products would be priced between Rs 2,000 and Rs 7,000, targeting housewives and middle- to upper-class households.

What’s the case about?

However, the business partnership has now landed Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra in trouble. A businessman named Deepak Kothari has accused the couple of duping him out of Rs 60.40 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal for Best Deal TV Private Limited. According to Kothari, the couple took the money under the pretext of expanding their business, but allegedly used it for personal expenses. They also allegedly took the money as a loan but later showed it as an investment to save on taxes.

Allegations

Kothari claims that Shilpa Shetty provided a personal guarantee in writing in April 2016, but she resigned as director of the firm a few months later. The Mumbai Police have issued a lookout notice against Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra, restricting them from leaving the country without prior clearance. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is investigating the case.

Meanwhile, the couple has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless and malicious." Their lawyer, Prashant Patil, stated that the case is civil in nature and that the matter had already been adjudicated by the NCLT Mumbai in 2024.