Vikram Bhatt Recalls Near-Death Experience During 70 Days in Jail for Fraud Case

Bandra-based filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has opened up about his harrowing 70-day imprisonment and a near-death experience following his arrest in a Rs 30 crore fraud case. The filmmaker and his wife, Shwetambari, faced accusations of fraud in connection with a dispute surrounding a proposed biopic on IVF founder Ajay Murdia's wife, Indira Murdia.

In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Bhatt recalled the tough period and discussed the serious health complications he endured behind bars, revealing that he almost died during his time in jail. Despite the difficult circumstances, the filmmaker explained that he experienced unexpected warmth and support from fellow prisoners and formed unexpected bonds during his incarceration.

Bhatt shared that he was staying in a barrack with 60 to 80 people. He described discovering a different side of India through the compassion of his fellow inmates. According to the filmmaker, the other prisoners would not let him do any labor, and they regularly brought him his food and took care of his clothes. He explained that they would tell him to just sit there.

The inmates affectionately referred to Bhatt as 'Bhishma Pitamah' and gathered around him in the evenings. Bhatt stated that every night, around 60 to 65 people would assemble in the barrack and ask him to narrate stories, specifically requesting that he tell them horror stories while they sat together.

Beyond the support from his fellow inmates, Bhatt also received significant backing from prominent figures within the film industry. He revealed that actors Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, and Ajay Devgn all reached out to him with supportive phone calls during his time in jail.

Reflecting on the entire ordeal, Bhatt noted that the experience taught him valuable lessons about the ordinary Indians who make up the audience for his films. He stated that he discovered what friendship really means during his 70 days in jail.