Actor Rajpal Yadav, currently enjoying the success of his latest film 'Bhooth Bangla,' has addressed the long-standing public assumptions surrounding his cheque bounce case that led to his imprisonment. The controversy dates back to 2010 when Rajpal reportedly borrowed Rs 5 crore to finance his film 'Ata Pata Laapata.' Released in 2012, the movie failed at the box office, and the loan remained unpaid, resulting in a legal case.
Rajpal Yadav's Statement on the Cheque Bounce Case
In a recent interview, Rajpal Yadav clarified that his imprisonment was not simply due to an inability to pay Rs 5 crore. He stated that the issue was far larger than just money and that he is determined to fight the case for his entire life without settling. He added that the case has caused him a total loss of Rs 22 crore.
During his conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, Rajpal was questioned about why he did not repay the Rs 5 crore despite having the funds and work at that time. The 'Bhool Bhulaiyaan' actor explained, "This is exactly the point of my case; it's not about not being able to pay Rs 5 crore. It's too early to speak on why I went to jail or if I have the money or not." He elaborated that the matter was not solely about money; otherwise, it would have been resolved long ago. "Had it just been a matter of Rs 5 crore, it would have been resolved in 2012 itself, but because of this Rs 5 crore, I have incurred losses of Rs 17 crore. At that time, the matter was not in court when the person jeopardised my film's worth of Rs 17 crore. After this person saw 70 per cent of the film, he invested another Rs 5 crore," Rajpal said.
Rajpal Yadav's Claim of Rs 22 Crore Loss and Determination to Never Settle
Detailing the issue further, the actor mentioned that the entire scenario led to a loss of Rs 22 crore. He quoted, "Rs 5-7 crore were to be spent on the film's release, and the total production budget of the film was Rs 22 crore. Even if you are an enemy, you would not stop the project from releasing, especially when 10 others have also invested money in this. We have been talking about the intention behind giving these Rs 5 crore. My intention was good. What was my fault?"
The film had a short box office run and did not reach the 200-screen mark, resulting in a significant loss. Additionally, a press conference conducted by the reported lender aggravated the situation. "A film that was supposed to release on over 1000 screens, Amitabh Bachchan inaugurated its music album, but it was not even allowed to sustain for three days. He sank Rs 22 crore by just doing a press conference; his intention was bad, which cost me Rs 22 crore," Rajpal Yadav said. He added, "Since the last 10 years, I have been saying the same thing. The film had 200 artists, including Dara Singhji, but he made it an issue as if I owed him Rs 50 crore and absconded with it. When he had post-dated cheques already, then why did he bring a stay order on the film's release? Soon after the High Court rejected their stay order, this party went and did an accusatory press conference. Because of this, the film could not be released in 200 screens either." The actor asserted that with the right intention, he will never back down or settle. "I will keep fighting with him all my life over this intention; I won't go in for a settlement," Rajpal said.
Rajpal Yadav Expresses Gratitude Towards the Industry
During these difficult times, Rajpal Yadav was deeply moved by the unwavering support from the film industry. He shared, "There was no one from the film industry who didn't stand by me. There are two types of help: one is where others get to know about it, and the other is done secretly, the way Sonu Sood took a stand for me." He added that he never faced a shortage of work, having completed 250 films in 25 years. Expressing his gratitude, he noted that the industry has always been supportive.
