Rajpal Yadav has opened up about one of the most talked-about phases of his life—his jail stint and the controversy surrounding the Rs 5 crore debt case. In a recent conversation, the actor addressed public perception, industry support, and the reality behind the headlines.The conversation began with a reference to Nawazuddin Siddiqui once calling Rajpal a “kind-hearted” person who kept his kitchen open for struggling actors.Responding to this, Rajpal told Shubhankar Mishra, “I’ll speak from the heart. There are many things I’ve done that I will never talk about publicly—because the moment you speak about them, their value ends.”He added, “There are two kinds of help… one that people come to know about, and one that remains hidden.”
‘There is no one who is not with me’
Addressing questions about whether people stood by him during his difficult phase, the actor maintained that he has always had support.“In the last 25 years… from my village to Mumbai, there is no one who is not with me,” he said, adding that his long career itself is proof of the industry’s backing.Rajpal further pointed out that he has worked in over 250 films, saying, “There isn’t a producer, director or actor who hasn’t called me again for work… If the industry wasn’t with me, how could I have done so many films?”
‘It was not about lack of money’
One of the most common public perceptions—that an actor with such a vast filmography should have easily repaid Rs 5 crore—was also addressed.“That’s exactly the question… the day people understand this, they will understand my entire case,” Rajpal said, hinting that the matter is far more complex than it appears.Speaking about his jail stint, the actor clarified, “I was not jailed because I didn’t have money. It was about a larger issue and a matter of principle.”He added that had it been just about Rs 5 crore, “it would have been resolved in 2012 itself,” claiming that the issue eventually led to losses of Rs 17–22 crore.
Film loss and halted release
Rajpal also spoke about the film project at the centre of the controversy, revealing that a significant portion had already been completed before things went wrong.“Rs 12 crore had already been spent… it became a Rs 22 crore project,” he said, adding that the film’s release was disrupted.“If even enemies are involved in a project, they should let it release. The audience should decide,” he stated.Reacting to allegations of fraud, the actor said, “In the film industry, out of 100 films, 20 work and 80 fail… If a film fails, it doesn’t mean fraud has been committed.”He stressed that setbacks are part of the business and should not be misinterpreted.
‘This fight was not started by me’
Despite the prolonged legal battle, Rajpal maintained that he has faith in the system.“I respect the judiciary, legislature and executive… I have full faith,” he said, while adding, “This fight was not started by me, but it will end because of me.”Concluding his remarks, the actor urged people to look beyond surface-level narratives.“There has been a lot of miscommunication… Just listen to the full story,” he said, adding that he is simply presenting his side.
