Rajpal Yadav to Remain in Tihar Jail Amid Bollywood Support, Next Bail Hearing on February 16
Rajpal Yadav’s financial woes stem from a loan taken for his 2010 directorial debut 'Ata Pata Laapata', which failed at the box office.
Bollywood actor-comedian Rajpal Yadav will remain in Tihar Jail in a ₹9 crore debt case as the next hearing in his bail plea has been posted for Monday (February 16). Yadav, one of the most loved comedians of Indian cinema, spent a week in Tihar Jail after surrendering on February 5. The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected his plea for more time in a long-running cheque bounce and defaulting case. On Thursday (February 12), the court issued notice to the respondent on the bail plea filed by the actor, fixing the matter for hearing on Monday, Hindustan Times reported.
During the hearing, Yadav's counsel informed the court that around ₹2 crore is still left to be settled. The same, they promised, shall be taken care of, the report stated.
Amid his troubles, the Bollywood film fraternity rallied behind Yadav with offers of financial support. Celebrities like Mika Singh, Sonu Sood and Guru Randhawa have publicly pledged their support, while leading actors like Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn have also reached out in his hour of need.
"People have taken the initiative to help," Yadav's manager, Goldie Jain, had earlier told news agency PTI. "They all have promised to help, it doesn't mean financially only. It's true that (Salman, Ajay, Varun and David Dhawan) these people have called. In what capacity and how they will help, that is yet to be known. They are all well-wishers of Rajpal bhai.”
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has also appealed to producers, directors and actors to extend their moral and financial support to Yadav.
Rajpal Yadav’s financial woes stem from a loan taken for his 2010 directorial debut Ata Pata Laapata, which failed at the box office. According to court records, Yadav borrowed ₹5 crore from Murali Projects Pvt Ltd in 2010 to finance the film. The amount was not repaid after the film’s commercial failure, leading to a prolonged legal battle between the two parties. By 2024, the outstanding liability had risen to approximately ₹9 crore, factoring in interest and other dues.
In 2018, a magistrate court convicted Rajpal Yadav and his wife in the case. The conviction was later upheld by a sessions court in 2019. Following this, Yadav approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the earlier rulings and seeking relief against the conviction.
A graduate of the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, Rajpal Yadav has been a fixture in iconic Hindi comedies like Chup Chup Ke, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Phir Hera Pheri and others. He has also done serious and atypical roles in films like Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain, Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon! and Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh.