Actor Rajpal Yadav spoke candidly about his financial troubles just before surrendering at Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Thursday in connection with a cheque-bounce case. The 54-year-old actor, best known for his comic turns in films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), Hungama (2003) and Dhol (2007), said he was left with no money and no support system, and had no option but to comply with the court’s order.
Yadav surrendered after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him more time. He had earlier been directed to appear before the Jail Superintendent by February 4 but failed to do so, prompting the court to deny further relief. The bench underlined that the law applies equally to everyone, irrespective of profession.
In an earlier interaction with Bollywood Hungama, Yadav had spoken about his financial crisis. “Sir, kya karoon? Mere paas paise nahin hain (What do I do? I don’t have the money),” he said, adding that he could see no way out of the situation. When asked whether he had approached friends from the industry — including filmmaker Priyadarshan, with whom he has worked often — Yadav replied, “Yahan hum sab akele hain (We are all on our own here). There are no friends. I have to handle this myself.”
What is the case about?
According to earlier reports, the case dates back to 2018 and involves an alleged unpaid loan of Rs 5 crore taken in 2010 from a Delhi-based businessman. The loan was reportedly meant to finance Yadav’s directorial venture Ata Pata Laapata, which was released in 2012. However, the repayment was allegedly never made.
The actor and his wife, Radha Yadav, were named in the case. Yadav had been summoned multiple times in the past and was earlier sent to judicial custody for 10 days during the proceedings.
After he failed to meet the deadline to surrender, the High Court directed him to do so immediately. Tihar Jail officials later confirmed that Yadav presented himself before the Jail Superintendent at around 4 pm on Thursday, shortly after the court’s order.
Court’s observations
In its order, the High Court said there was no merit in the plea seeking recall of the earlier direction to surrender. The bench emphasised that judicial orders cannot be diluted through repeated extensions.
It also made it clear that an individual’s background — including being part of the film industry — cannot be grounds for special consideration. The court stressed that its previous direction regarding the surrender date left “no room for confusion.”
While Yadav’s lawyer argued that the delay was due to attempts to arrange the repayment, the bench maintained that granting further relief would undermine the authority of court orders.
Support from the industry
Actor Sonu Sood came out in support of Yadav, urging the film fraternity to stand by him during this difficult phase. In a note shared on X, Sood described Yadav as a talented performer who has contributed significantly to the industry.
He suggested that producers and colleagues could offer him signing amounts adjustable against future work, calling it a matter of dignity rather than charity. “When one of our own is going through a tough time, we should remind him he’s not alone,” Sood wrote.
A look at his career
Rajpal Yadav has been a familiar face in Hindi cinema for over two decades. After debuting in the late 1990s, he gained recognition for playing the antagonist in Jungle (2000). Over the years, he has appeared in nearly 150 films across multiple languages, including Marathi, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali, apart from Hindi.
He was recently seen in Baby John (2024) and Interrogation (2025). His upcoming projects include Priyadarshan’s horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla, co-starring Akshay Kumar, slated for release on April 10, as well as Welcome to The Jungle, featuring an ensemble cast.