Love often requires patience, understanding, and thoughtful choices. For Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra, their journey to marriage was full of moments that tested their commitment and showcased the lengths they were willing to go for each other.
Early life and how they met
Raj Kundra was born and raised in London to Punjabi parents. In 2007, he moved to Dubai to start his business, around the same time he met Shilpa Shetty in the UK. She had just won the popular reality show Big Brother season 5, and the meeting was arranged through a mutual friend who also managed her.
In conversation with BHARTI TV, Kundra recalled that they connected well when they first started talking, which marked the beginning of his efforts to woo her. Growing up, he and his father had been Bollywood fans, so he was already familiar with Shilpa’s films. However, getting her to agree to marriage was neither quick nor easy.
Navigating Shilpa’s busy schedule
Kundra further said that Shilpa was busy shooting a film for about a year and a half, which left him feeling a bit impatient. At the time, it was commonly believed that a heroine’s career ended once she got married. He suggested that she confirm with the producer or director whether the film would actually happen, or else he might step back.
Buying a home to honor her wishes
Since the Bollywood actress was clear about wanting to stay in India and marry there, Kundra, who didn’t own any property in the country, reached out to a real estate agent he knew. The agent told him about a seven-floor apartment being built opposite Amitabh Bachchan’s Juhu bungalow, Jalsa. Without even seeing the flat, Raj immediately bought the seventh floor.
Proposal and promise to stay in India
Kundra told Shetty that he had bought a flat for them and proposed, to which she agreed. He mentioned that it didn’t matter where he worked, but now that he had fallen for her, he was determined to go all out. He assured her that he would never ask her to leave India and that any trips abroad would only be for holidays, respecting her wish to stay in her home country.The businessman also tried to persuade his parents to move to Mumbai with them, but they preferred to stay in the UK, where they had lived for 55 years and had their entire circle of friends. They now visit India only for festivals like Diwali and Christmas, though Kundra keeps the door open for them if they ever decide to relocate.Shilpa’s mother, Sunanda Shetty, also lives with the couple following the death of her husband, Surinder Shetty. Kundra explained that after his father-in-law passed away, he invited his mother-in-law to stay with them, ensuring she had enough space and comfort. Shilpa and Raj Kundra are also parents to two children — son Viaan and daughter Samisha.
