Film fraternity avow to help Rajpal Yadav in 9-crore debt case

Published: 09:49 AM, 11 Feb, 2026
Lifestyle
Film fraternity avow to help Rajpal Yadav in 9-crore debt case
*Note: All monetary values mentioned are in Indian Rupees (₹)

A wave of support has emerged for Rajpal Yadav after the actor surrendered to Tihar Jail in connection with a 9-crore cheque-bounce case, with several prominent figures from film, politics, and music publicly pledging financial assistance.

Kamaal R Khan was among the first to make a direct monetary offer, announcing 10 lakh in support and urging the Hindi film industry to collectively raise 5 crore to help secure Rajpal’s release.

Actor Sonu Sood also stepped forward, stating on X that he would cast Rajpal in one of his upcoming films and encouraging producers to provide signing amounts for future projects to offer the actor immediate financial relief.

Gurmeet Choudhary appealed to filmmakers and members of the industry to unite and extend support during what he described as a difficult phase for the comedian.

Tej Pratap Yadav, national president of Jan Shakti Janata Dal, pledged 11 lakh to assist the actor.

Adding to the growing list of supporters, music producer Rao Inderjeet Singh Yadav, owner of GemTunes Music, offered 1.1 crore to Rajpal Yadav.

Speaking to IANS, he said, "Rajpal ji has given immeasurable joy to audiences and has been an integral part of Indian cinema. This support is not about money; it is about standing with a fellow human being in his time of need.

"Our industry is a family, and families hold each other when it matters most."

He also shared a message on Instagram encouraging others to come forward and contribute.

Before surrendering, Rajpal expressed his distress over the situation. In a statement reported earlier, he said, "What should I do? I don’t have any money. I don’t see any other solution." When asked if he had sought help from friends in the industry, he remarked, "Yahan hum sab akele hain. There are no friends. I have to deal with this crisis on my own."

According to PTI, the matter dates back to 2010 when Rajpal Yadav borrowed 5 crore from M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to finance his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata. The film failed commercially, resulting in significant financial losses.

Over the years, accumulated interest, penalties, and delays caused the liability to swell to nearly 9 crore. In an attempt to settle the dues, Rajpal issued multiple cheques to the lender. These cheques were dishonoured, leading to criminal proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

On February 2, 2026, the Delhi High Court ordered Rajpal Yadav to surrender before jail authorities by 4 pm on February 4, noting that his repeated breaches of undertakings warranted strong disapproval.

On February 5, 2026, he appeared in court, where his counsel informed the bench that he was prepared to submit a demand draft of 25 lakh and comply with a revised repayment schedule.

However, the court declined to withdraw the surrender order, stressing that compassion must be balanced with judicial discipline and that it could not create "special circumstances" for members of the film industry.

Later that day, Rajpal Yadav surrendered at Tihar Jail to serve a six-month sentence. Jail officials confirmed that standard procedures were followed.

Despite the legal setback, Rajpal remains professionally active. He was last seen in Baby John and Interrogation and is scheduled to appear next in Akshay Kumar’s horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla, slated for release on April 10.

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Aleezae Shabbir Khan

The writer is a Media & Communications graduate, who’s done O & A’Levels from Lahore Grammar School. Passionate about peace, pluralism, and interfaith harmony, she has won prizes in the realm from the British Council Pakistan and currently works as a Content Writer for Showbiz at 24 News HD.