Vikram Bhatt He spent 70 days in jail after being arrested in connection with a controversy over a biopic about IVF founder Ajay Murdia’s wife Indira Murdia. The filmmaker and his wife Shwetamba were accused of a 30-crore fraud. While Vikram had a tough time in jail, in a recent interview, he explained that tough time and how he almost died. Bhatt spoke about the unexpected bonds he formed behind bars, the serious health complications he endured and the lessons he learned about the ordinary Indians who make up the audience for his films.Despite the circumstances, he said he received amazing warmth and support from his fellow inmates. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan he said, “I was in a barracks with 60 to 80 people. But there I saw another India. I discovered what friendship really is. They wouldn’t let me do anything. They brought me food and took care of my clothes. I was called Bhishma Pitamah. They said, ‘Pitamah, sit here and tell a horror story.“Every night, around 60-65 people gathered and asked me to tell stories.”Bhatt said the compassion he experienced was not limited to prisoners. According to him, prison officials and police officers also extended help to him when his health deteriorated. “Even when I was in bad health, the police and the prison authorities were very helpful. The people you might not expect to be good were the kindest people. I made friends there for life because they protected me with their lives. Two people slept by my side. No one could harm me. And I did nothing for them. What they saw in me and why they cared so much for me, only God knows.’The filmmaker explained that his time in prison exposed him to people and perspectives far from the bubble of the film industry. For him, these interactions became a valuable learning experience.“When you’re inside with these people, who else are you going to talk to? If you don’t befriend them, who are you going to be with? For me, it was a chance to reconnect with an India I’d lost touch with. This is the India that watches our films. I got to know that India again. It was a refresher course for me, understanding how they react, think and believe in stories. These are the people who go to theaters and watch our films.“However, the period was also marked by severe physical suffering. Bhatt revealed that she suffers from axial spondyloarthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronic pain in the joints and muscles. Sleeping on the ground during the cold winter months worsened his condition significantly.“I almost died in prison. I suffer from an autoimmune condition. I have pain in my joints and muscles, and you have to sleep there on a mat on the floor. It was December and January, and it was terribly cold.’His health deteriorated further when he contracted jaundice while in detention. Bhatt recalled repeatedly pleading with the authorities to arrange medical treatment as his condition worsened.“I also got jaundice, and I was telling the authorities to take me to a hospital. At night, because of the cold, I got such a fever that the people in my barracks gave me blankets. Even then, I would still be shaking. I told the authorities to take me to a hospital. They used to say ‘Bihar’ or ‘Tomorrow’. My roommates were also telling them that I was very sick. But they said they didn’t have enough guards and security measures were needed.“Finally, convinced that hospital treatment was unlikely, Bhatt decided to take matters into his own hands through diet discipline and faith.“Then I felt that I would never get it. So I started doing what I had done before when I got jaundice. I completely stopped eating fatty foods and survived on grams, water and fruits. Slowly, I started to heal. I prayed a lot and contacted my God about this experience.”After his release, Bhatt received calls from various people in the film fraternity, some of whom surprised him. “Mithun da called me, some people called me. Sanjay Dutt he called me even though I had never worked with him. I thanked him for that.”Asked if Akshay Kumar contacted him despite their professional collaboration, Bhatt candidly replied, “Why would he call me? He’s not my friend.” He also talked about his long-time relationship Ajay Devgnexplaining why the actor’s call meant something different. “He called me because he’s a childhood friend. Every relationship is different. How can you impose such expectations on everyone? It’s not logical to expect that.”Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Bhatt, were arrested in December 2025 following a dispute over a proposed biopic on Indira Murdia. According to the FIR, he met Ajay Murdia Bhatt in Mumbai in April 2024 to discuss a film based on his wife’s life, as well as another potential historical war project. The complaint alleged that disagreements over financial matters later arose between the parties, ultimately leading to litigation. The couple was granted bail in February 2026.
