Shekhar Suman on Indian fugitives: 'They flew planes, played cricket'
Synopsis
While promoting his new Prime Video series 'The Pyramid Scheme', Shekhar Suman didn't just talk craft — he pointed a finger. His description of real-life fugitives who 'flew airplanes and played cricket' before fleeing India with bank funds as the inspiration for his conman character is the kind of oblique, deniable dig that lands louder than a direct accusation.
Key Takeaways
Shekhar Suman described Indian fugitives abroad as 'glib talkers' with exceptional charm, calling them inspiration for his conman role.
He said people who 'used to fly airplanes, play cricket' and left India with 'a lot of money from the banks' informed his character study.
The remarks were made during promotions for 'The Pyramid Scheme' , now streaming on Prime Video .
The series is produced by The Viral Fever and directed by Shreyansh Pandey and Ashish R Shukla .
Suman did not name any individual; the references were widely interpreted online as allusions to high-profile economic offenders residing abroad.
Actor Shekhar Suman has taken a pointed swipe at high-profile fugitives who fled India with alleged bank funds, describing them as supremely charming 'glib talkers' — and revealing that their personalities directly informed his role in the new streaming series 'The Pyramid Scheme'. The remarks came during the promotional circuit for the show, which began streaming on Prime Video in June 2025.
What Suman Said
Speaking alongside co-stars Ranvir Shorey, Shreyansh Pandey, and Paramvir Cheema, Suman explained the craft behind playing a convincing con man. 'The first prerequisite of a con man is the charm. Everybody gets swayed by the charm. They are the glib talkers. Very, very glib, very sharp. These people are very intelligent, except their energy is somewhere else,' he said.
He added that such individuals are 'very cunning, quick thinking' — and near-impossible to permanently contain. 'You catch them at one place, put them in jail, get them out and then do something different again. They don't stop,' he noted.
The Oblique Reference to Fugitives Abroad
Suman then made a remark widely read as a veiled reference to Indian businessmen and public figures who have relocated abroad amid legal proceedings at home. 'There are a lot of people who have left India now, with a lot of money from the banks. And they are comfortably living a very good life outside. Look at them, listen to them. Earlier, they used to fly airplanes, play cricket. So, if you listen to all these people, your character is right in front of you,' he said.
While Suman did not name any individuals, the references to aviation and cricket drew immediate attention online, with many interpreting the remarks as allusions to fugitive businessmen currently residing abroad. Notably, the comment arrives at a time when India's enforcement agencies have been actively pursuing several high-profile economic offenders overseas.
About 'The Pyramid Scheme'
The series explores the shadowy world of pyramid and Ponzi-style financial scams. The ensemble cast includes Paramvir Singh Cheema, Aanjjan Srivastav, Alfia Jafry, Ashish Raghava, Akhilendra Mishra, Smita Bansal, Vijay Kumar, Indresh Malik, Ravi Bhel, Sushant Singh, Sonal Jha, and Sadanand Patil.
The show is produced by The Viral Fever, created and co-directed by Shreyansh Pandey, and also directed by Ashish R Shukla. It is currently available on Prime Video.
Context and Reception
Suman, known for his satirical chat show and outspoken public commentary, has previously used his platform to lampoon political and financial malfeasance. The response to 'The Pyramid Scheme' has reportedly been positive, with audiences and critics noting his portrayal of a slick, morally flexible operator as one of the show's highlights. The series arrives as public interest in financial fraud narratives — from web series to courtroom dramas — continues to grow in India's streaming landscape.
Point of View
Vague enough to disclaim. The 'airplanes and cricket' framing is a well-understood cultural shorthand in India for two particular fugitive businessmen, and deploying it under the cover of a promotional interview is a studied move. What's more interesting is the creative admission underneath: that India's real-life economic offenders are so theatrically charming that an actor studying con artistry turns to them as primary source material. That says something about the state of accountability — and about what makes compelling television.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shekhar Suman say about Indian fugitives?
Shekhar Suman said that people who left India with large sums of bank money and are now 'comfortably living a very good life outside' served as character inspiration for his conman role. He described them as 'glib talkers' who 'used to fly airplanes, play cricket' — remarks widely interpreted as veiled references to high-profile fugitive businessmen abroad.
What is 'The Pyramid Scheme' and where can it be watched?
'The Pyramid Scheme' is a streaming series about the world of pyramid and Ponzi-style financial scams, produced by The Viral Fever and directed by Shreyansh Pandey and Ashish R Shukla. It stars Shekhar Suman, Ranvir Shorey, and an ensemble cast, and is available to stream on Prime Video.
Who did Shekhar Suman name in his remarks?
Suman did not name any specific individual. His references to people who 'flew airplanes' and 'played cricket' before fleeing India were oblique, and he framed the remarks as research for his acting role rather than direct accusations.
Who else stars in 'The Pyramid Scheme'?
The series features Paramvir Singh Cheema, Aanjjan Srivastav, Alfia Jafry, Ashish Raghava, Akhilendra Mishra, Smita Bansal, Vijay Kumar, Indresh Malik, Ravi Bhel, Sushant Singh, Sonal Jha, and Sadanand Patil, alongside Shekhar Suman and Ranvir Shorey.
Why are Suman's remarks significant?
The remarks are notable because they link a mainstream entertainment promotion to India's ongoing pursuit of economic offenders abroad, and because Suman — known for political satire — framed real fugitives as acting research, drawing a sharp public response without making a legally actionable direct claim.
