Renowned for his comedic brilliance, Rajpal Yadav has long been a beloved figure in Indian cinema. However, beneath the laughter lies a poignant personal story that the actor shared in an interview with The Lallantop. At the tender age of 20, Yadav faced an unimaginable tragedy when his first wife, Karuna, passed away during childbirth in 1991. This event left him to raise their newborn daughter, Jyoti, with the unwavering support of his family.
Recalling those painful days, Yadav said, “Back in the day, if you were a 20-year-old man with a job, people would ask your family to get you married. So, my father got me married. My first wife, she just delivered a baby, a daughter, and died. I was supposed to meet her the next day but was then carrying her dead body on my shoulders. But thanks to my family, my mother, my sister-in-law, it never felt like my daughter didn’t have her mother, she grew up with a lot of love.” Despite the loss, Yadav’s family ensured that Jyoti never felt the absence of a mother’s affection.
Finding Love Again
Years later, Yadav found solace and love once more, marrying Radha in 2003. Together, they have two daughters, Harshita and Rehanshi. In the same interview, he expressed profound gratitude towards Radha, who embraced Jyoti as her own. He remarked, “After my guru, my parents… the one who supported me the most is my wife, 100 percent. Radha also raised the daughter I had from my first wife, as her own. She is in Lucknow today, happily married but the credit goes to my family and wife. I did nothing, I was just a medium, everything came along and helped.”
Radha’s ability to seamlessly integrate into Yadav’s life and family is a testament to her adaptability and commitment. “I have never asked my wife to wear saree or anything. The way I talk to my mother, my wife talks to her the same way. She learnt the language, one day when I reached the village, I saw that woh muh dhak ke baithi hui hai (she covered her face and sat there), because in villages women live a certain way. Whenever she visits the village–during Holi and Diwali–no one can gauge that she knows five languages!” Yadav shared.
Legal Troubles and Financial Strain
Meanwhile, Yadav is currently embroiled in legal issues stemming from his 2010 directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata. The film’s failure at the box office led to significant financial difficulties, resulting in multiple cheque-bounce cases. Recently, the Delhi High Court denied his plea for additional time to repay nearly Rs 9 crore in outstanding dues, leading to his surrender at Tihar Jail.
The court noted that he was required to pay Rs 1.35 crore in each of the seven cheque-bounce cases filed against him and directed that the amount already deposited with the registrar general be released in favour of the complainant.
In 2010, Yadav borrowed Rs 5 crore from M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd for the film, which has since sparked a prolonged legal battle. Before surrendering, he admitted to having no means to repay the debt and, when asked about seeking help from colleagues, remarked, “Everyone is on their own” in the industry.
Support from the Film Industry
Despite the grim circumstances, Yadav’s family remains hopeful, with his manager, Goldie, expressing optimism about his release. The bail hearing is scheduled for February 12. In a show of solidarity, several celebrities, including Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Varun Dhawan, Sonu Sood, Guru Randhawa, and Rao Inderjeet Singh Yadav, have offered financial assistance to help Yadav settle his debts.
This development follows a series of challenges for Yadav, yet his story is one of resilience and the enduring support of family and friends. As the legal proceedings continue, the actor’s journey serves as a reminder of the personal battles that often accompany public success.
