Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt spoke about the legal troubles that landed him in jail for 70 days, the people who stood by him, and why he feels no resentment towards his mentor and director Mahesh Bhatt for not speaking out in his defence.Vikram Bhatt has been in jail for 70 days after his arrest in connection with a dispute over a proposed biopic on IVF founder Ajay Murdiya’s late wife, Indira Murdiya. The director and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt have been accused in an alleged Rs 30 crore fraud case. The pair were arrested in December 2025 after a dispute related to the proposed biography.According to the FIR, Ajay met Murdia Bhatt in Mumbai in April 2024 to discuss a film based on his late wife’s life, along with another possible historical war project.
The complaint alleged that financial disputes later arose between the two parties, which ultimately led to legal action. Vikram and Shwetambari were released on bail in February 2026.Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, Vikram addressed the accusations against him and asserted that the accusations are baseless.
“The indictment cannot prove anything.”
Asked about the fraud allegations, Vikram completely rejected the allegations.“All I can say is that this is nonsense. The indictment couldn’t prove anything.
“It is the most bizarre indictment,” he said.The director added that since the matter is before the court, he prefers to let the judicial process speak on his behalf.“I understand that no matter what I say today, people will say: ‘Of course he will say that. “He will defend himself. So I want the court to defend me. I have faith that the truth will come out.”Vikram also commented, “Those who know me won’t believe it. And those who do probably don’t know me.”
“Some college friends think I did it.”
Commenting on the repercussions of his arrest, Vikram said the experience taught him valuable lessons about relationships.While some people from the industry reached out to him, he revealed that some friends from his college days still believe he is guilty.“I’ve had some people contact me. But there are some very close friends from college who think I did it and don’t talk to me anymore,” he said.“Bad times tell you who really knows you and who doesn’t.”The director also rejected the idea that the film industry operates as one unified family.“People talk about unity in the industry. Why should there be unity? We are not a cricket team. What industry is one big unit? Every man for himself. This is something I learned after going to prison.”
Vikram Bhatt talks about Mahesh Bhatt’s silence
During the conversation, Vikram was asked if he expected Mahesh Bhatt to publicly support him during the controversy, considering their long professional association.His response was clear.“No. I never felt like anyone needed to come out and say anything to me.”When asked if he wished Mahesh Bhatt would at least say a few words in support, Vikram said he would rather give people the benefit of the doubt.“I know. But maybe he had reasons for staying silent. Maybe he was helping me by staying silent.”He continued, “Maybe he felt that if he spoke, my problems would increase.”
“This might provoke the people who surrounded me and make things worse.”“I will only look at the good side of people. I will not look at the negative side.”
“If you have God, no one can touch you.”
Vikram also credited spirituality and faith for helping him survive one of the most difficult periods of his life.“I believe in God. I can’t talk about everything now, but the way I went through it was a miracle. It was all God,” he said.The director revealed that he went through profound spiritual experiences while in prison.“I have had some wonderful spiritual enlightenment within.”Sharing one of the biggest lessons learned from this experience, he added: “No matter how much power, money or power someone has, if you have God, no one can hold you back.”
“I think about the people still inside.”
Although Vikram said he carries no trauma from his time in prison, he admitted that he often thinks about the inmates he met there.“It’s not a shock. But I remember people.”“Sometimes I wonder what they are doing. Some of them are still in prison.
Some still have not received bail. Like me, there are many innocent people out there.”He added: “What should you remember about prison? It’s just four walls. But people stay with you.”Vikram also revealed that he formed unexpected bonds while in prison.“They gave me a kind of love that was very real,” he said, recalling how his fellow inmates would ensure that no one around him smoked because of his asthma.
