Famous actor Rajpal Yadav, who makes the audience laugh with his brilliant comedy, is going through a legal and financial crisis these days. The actor has surrendered in Tihar jail after the Delhi High Court rejected his plea for extension of time in ‘cheque bounce’ cases. However, during these difficult times, many big names from the film industry have come forward in their support.
Excerpts of the special conversation with Radha Yadav, wife of PTI’s Rajpal Yadav-
Actor Rajpal Yadav’s wife Radha Yadav on Wednesday said many people from the film industry have come forward in support of the comedian after he surrendered in Tihar jail in ‘cheque bounce’ cases. Rajpal Yadav was sent to Tihar jail after the Delhi High Court rejected his plea for more time to repay the dues.
The actor has to pay around Rs 9 crore. Yadav is known for films like ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’, ‘Waqt’, ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, ‘Partner’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Hungama’ and ‘Chup Chup Ke’. Many people from the film industry, including actors Sonu Sood, Gurmeet Choudhary and musician Rao Inderjit Yadav, offered financial assistance to the family and appealed to others to also come forward. Radha Yadav told PTI, “Everyone is standing with him.
The film industry has cooperated a lot. We are very thankful to everyone who is coming forward to help.” Goldie Jain, who has been Rajpal Yadav’s manager for 25 years, said that from leading actors to directors and producers, many people have offered assistance.
A media report claimed that actors Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, Varun Dhawan and filmmaker David Dhawan have also offered financial help. Jain said, “People have taken the initiative to help. Everyone has promised to help, it does not just mean financial help. It is true that these people (Salman, Ajay, Varun and David Dhawan) have called. In what form and how they will help is yet to be decided. They are all well-wishers of Rajpal Bhai.”
“The bail hearing is tomorrow and if all goes well, we will hold a press conference,” he said. Yadav had borrowed Rs 5 crore from Murali Projects Pvt Ltd for his directorial debut ‘Aata Pata Lapata’ in 2010, but the film failed at the box office. Before surrendering, Yadav had told ‘Bollywood Hungama’ that he did not have money or any other means to repay the dues. When asked if he sought help from his famous colleagues, the actor had said, “Everyone is out for themselves in the industry.”
The Delhi High Court, in its recent judgment, said Yadav has to pay Rs 1.35 crore in each of the seven cases registered against him and directed that the amount already deposited with the Registrar General of the High Court be released in favor of the complainant. Actor Sonu Sood was the first from the industry to come forward in support of Yadav. He said that he will cast Rajpal Yadav in one of his films and is giving ‘signing amount’ as advance payment for it.
Yadav, a graduate of the National School of Drama (NSD), has been an important part of many popular Bollywood comedy films. Sood appealed to others to also come forward, saying, “A small ‘signing amount’ that can be adjusted against future work is not a donation, but an honour. When any of us is going through a difficult phase… this is the way to show that we are more than just an industry.”