Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 19, 2026)

Rajpal Yadav surrendered to Tihar Jail on February 5 after the Delhi High Court refused to extend the deadline for him to hand himself over in connection with a long-running Rs. 9cr cheque-bounce case. Post his release on Tuesday, he left for his niece’s wedding in Shahjahanpur.

In a chat with us, Rajpal chose his words carefully, aware that the matter remains legally sensitive. “Everything related to the episode and the legal matters is ongoing. I am careful with my words because even a slight change in my words can create issues. So I don’t want even a single line to become a problem,” he said at the outset.

'I’ve never tried to twist my words’
Rajpal Yadav reiterated that his stance has remained consistent since the court case began. “When the High Court ordered me to surrender, I did that. When they ordered me to come out, I did. If the court says wait, I will wait. I have never tried to twist my words or change my stand to suit a moment. My point hasn’t changed, my passport hasn’t changed, so why would my truth change? I was clear that I want everyone to know the facts,” he said.

‘I observed a lot while I was in jail’
Talking about his days in jail, Rajpal said, “For me, every day is a new beginning – a new day of learning and a new day of working. As an actor, I just observed everything around me. I was eating the same food that was made for everyone. I did whatever was expected of me. I just want the High Court to hear my point of view and if the Court finds that I’m wrong – send me back to jail, I will respect that.”

‘The industry doesn’t need to prove that they are with me’
Reports of financial support from members of the film industry have been circulating, but Rajpal refuses to name anyone.

He said, “This case first appeared in the media in 2012. Reports stated, ‘Rajpal Yadav is a fraud.’ Since then, I have had at least 10 films a year. Why would anyone work with me if I was a fraud? The industry doesn’t need to prove that they are with me, I have faith that everyone is with me.”

When probed further on the financial support he has supposedly received from some people in the industry, he said, “I respect all the help, but I don’t want sympathy.”