Vijay Mallya, the former owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)—winners of the 2025 IPL—and the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, has responded to the overwhelming reception of his recent podcast with YouTuber Raj Shamani. The podcast, titled "Vijay Mallya Podcast: Rise & Downfall Of Kingfisher Airlines, Loans & RCB", has amassed over 20 million views on YouTube in just four days, with additional clips widely circulated on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Taking to X on June 10, Mallya wrote, “Saying that I’m humbled and overwhelmed doesn’t fully express how I feel.” He continued, “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to watch my 4+ hour podcast with @rajshamani. Just the 20 million YouTube views in four days—and countless shares on Instagram and Facebook—fills me with joy that my true story is finally being heard. God bless you all.”

Key Moments in the Podcast: Mallya, who left India in 2016 after being accused of defaulting on loans totaling over ₹9,000 crore, addressed the allegations in the podcast. He denied any wrongdoing and offered a rare apology to former employees of Kingfisher Airlines while reflecting on its collapse. The conversation also marked Mallya’s first media appearance in nearly a decade. He spoke about the rise and fall of his airline, the founding of RCB, and his personal and legal battles. When asked by Raj Shamani if he would return to India if assured a fair trial, Mallya replied, “If I’m assured, absolutely I will. I’ll seriously consider it.”

Responding to 'Fugitive' Label: On being called a fugitive, Mallya stated, “You can call me a fugitive for not returning after March, but I didn’t escape—I left on a planned trip. I had my reasons for not coming back, which I believe are valid. If you want to label me a fugitive, go ahead. But where’s the theft? What is the basis for calling me a thief?”

Currently residing in the UK, Mallya remains entangled in legal proceedings involving Indian lenders and authorities. He is accused of defrauding a consortium of banks of over ₹9,000 crore through loans taken for Kingfisher Airlines. Earlier this year, he informed the Karnataka High Court that banks have already recovered the ₹6,200 crore debt "multiple times over" and requested a full statement of recovered amounts from himself, United Breweries, and other involved parties.