Mumbai: As Rajpal Yadav serves a six-month jail term over a Rs 9 crore cheque-bounce case, an old interview featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, fondly recalling how Rajpal’s home had become a sanctuary for struggling artistes, has gone viral again.
Talking about their decades-long friendship in an old interview with The Lallantop, Nawaz shared that Rajpal and he studied together at Bharatendu Natya Academy (BNA) in Lucknow and National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi.
“We only took training in acting for five years. If we speak academically, Rajpal and I have the most education in this industry (in acting). We don’t look like it, but we’re the most educated actors here (laughs). He is an amazing human being,” he said.
Revealing how Rajpal after getting good work continued to support struggling actors, Nawaz said, “A lot of people would eat at his home when Rajpal began to get good work, and he never complained. He always helped people. Not just me, when a lot of actors were struggling, his house was like a langar (communal free kitchen). Anybody could come and eat there. He jokes a lot, but in reality, he is a very sensitive human being.”
After a series of cheque-bounce cases, the Delhi High Court rejected Rajpal’s final attempt to avoid imprisonment and directed him to surrender.
Before surrendering at Tihar Jail on February 5, Rajpal broke down and said: “Sir, kya karoon? Mere paas paise nahin hain. Aur koi upaay nahin dikhta… Sir, yahan hum sab akele hain. There are no friends. I have to deal with this crisis on my own. (Sir, what should I do? I don’t have the money. I see no other way… Sir, here we are all alone.)”
Rajpal suffered financial losses after he taking a loan of Rs 5 crore to finance his directorial debut, ‘Ata Pata Laapata.’ However, the film turned out to be a dud at the box-office and the actor failed to pay back the loan and over the years, the outstanding amount accumulated to Rs 9 crore, including interest and penalties.
Following Rajpal’s surrender, several members of the film industry, including Sonu Sood, Gurmeet Choudhary, have publicly extended support to him. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has also appealed to the film and television industry to support the actor.
Jan Shakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav, has announced a financial assistance of Rs 11 lakh to the actor and his family.
Rajpal was last seen in ‘Baby John’ and ‘Interrogation’. His next project is the horror-comedy ‘Bhoot Bangla’ alongside Akshay Kumar, which is slated for release on April 10.
