From Glam to Gone: Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian Shuts Down Amid ₹60 Cr Controversy

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is navigating a particularly difficult time. Weeks after she and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, were hit with serious cheating allegations, Shetty has announced that she is closing one of her most famous ventures: the iconic Mumbai restaurant, Bastian Bandra.

On Tuesday, Shetty took to her Instagram stories to share the news with her followers. “This Thursday marks the end of an era as we bid farewell to one of Mumbai’s most iconic destinations—BASTIAN BANDRA,” she wrote. Her note described the restaurant as a place that “gave us countless memories, unforgettable nights, and moments that shaped the city’s nightlife now takes its final bow.”

Shetty also mentioned that while the Bandra outlet is closing, its popular Thursday ritual, “Arcane Affair,” will continue at its other location, “Bastian at the Top,” suggesting a new chapter for the brand.

The Timing: A “Rough Patch” in the Spotlight

The closure of Bastian Bandra—a restaurant Shilpa co-owns with restaurateur Ranjit Bindra and has been a celebrity hotspot since its inception in 2016—comes just weeks after a major legal controversy. The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has booked Shetty, Raj Kundra, and an unknown person for allegedly cheating a Mumbai-based businessman, Deepak Kothari, out of ₹60.4 crore.

Kothari has claimed that he was defrauded in a loan-cum-investment deal related to the couple’s now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. He alleges that he invested the money between 2015 and 2023 for business expansion, but the funds were instead “misused for personal expenses.” The EOW is currently investigating the case.

The Defense: “Baseless and Malicious”

In response to the accusations, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra’s lawyer, Prashant Patil, has issued a strong denial, calling the allegations “baseless and malicious.” Patil stated that the dispute is civil, not criminal, and has already been addressed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in October 2024.

According to the lawyer, all necessary documents and evidence, including detailed cash flow statements, have been provided to the EOW. He maintained that the investment was purely in the nature of an equity investment and that the complaint is nothing more than an attempt to “malign” his clients’ reputation.

The closing of the popular Bandra eatery, set against the backdrop of this ongoing legal battle, has only added to the public conversation surrounding the couple’s recent troubles.

Disha Rojhe