Controversial British-Indian businessman, part-owner of Rajasthan Royals and husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra is now also a writer. Described as a ‘gripping thriller’, his book How Not To Make Money is the story of three friends who grew up in the same London neighbourhood. Two of them, Jai and Mike, are smugglers, and the third, Aziz, a corporate lawyer, helps them devise a foolproof scheme to get rich quick. Here, Raj talks about his book among other things...
So, you don’t want us to make money...
(Laughs) Well I feel that ‘how to make money’ books have never worked so if we get ‘how not to’ right, then making money will come naturally. The reviews coming through now are very positive and people are loving the tongue-in-the cheek title.
Did it take longer than expected to finish the book?
It took me five years to write a book as I am not a writer. I have so much going on that I did not have enough time to sit and finish it at one go. I enjoyed English literature in college and with the help of my good friend Arghya Lahiri (my co-writer) we spent many hours a day discussing over coffee meetings, phone, Skype calls. It has been a fun process.
What inspired the story?
The inspiration came from seeing what was going on in day-to-day businesses in the UK. It was upsetting to see how people were using a loop hole to their advantage. More than the tax scam, this book is a story about three friends, their emotions, their highs and lows. A story of rags to riches to rags again; unfortunately as they say, crime doesn’t pay.
How difficult or easy it was to write something on a real event?
I personally feel real events are easier to write about as there is more data and factual information to go by. Also, having seen what happened hands on I used many of my life’s personal experiences in the book.
Are the characters based on real-life people?
Yes, all three characters are based on real life people whose names have been changed to protect their identities.
Do you plan to make a movie on it? Will Shilpa be there?
I don’t have any plans for a movie yet. Shilpa’s priority is our son at the moment. And her biggest contribution by the way was giving me some space and letting me write and speak to Arghya during her time with me (chuckles).
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