‘Make a hit film, rebuild your image’: SC to Rajpal Yadav after ₹1.15 crore deposit in cheque-bounce case

"Make a good movie, entertain people again, and rebuild your image," the Supreme Court advised actor Rajpal Yadav on Tuesday, acknowledging a deposit of ₹1.15 crore made by him in a long-standing series of cheque-bounce cases.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana noted that Yadav complied with its previous directive by depositing the amount. Counsel representing the actor informed the apex court that a prospective buyer for one of his properties had been identified, who is prepared to deposit ₹85 lakh via demand draft into the court’s registry by October 12.

Despite acknowledging the payment, the apex court remarked that it was not satisfied with Yadav’s conduct, clarifying that it was merely granting him "breathing time."


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Yadav, who appeared in person before the bench, cited severe financial setbacks resulting from his directorial debut Ata Pata Laapata.

"Sir, pranam karta hoon. I have worked on some 200 to 250 films. Over the last 13 years, I have also incurred losses amounting to Rs 200-250 crore. I suffered a loss with Ata Pata Laapata. Rs 17 crore went down the drain... Send me wherever and whenever you wish; I am ready... I could not earn a rupee.

"A press conference was held against me. My film was stalled. It was supposed to be released in 1,200 theatres, yet it couldn't be released in even a single one. The movie couldn't be released in even one theatre," he submitted.

In response, the Chief Justice remarked:

"Koi nayi movie aa rahi hai? Koi achi si movie banake logo ko dobara entertain karo. Aapki image dobara ban jaegi. Humare yahan kuch advocate bhi ache actor hain, unko leke koi movie banao.

(Is there a new movie coming out? Make a good movie and entertain people again; that will help rebuild your image. We have some lawyers here who are also good actors—why not make a movie featuring them?)"

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Roots of the legal dispute

The dispute dates back to a 2010 financial agreement in which Yadav borrowed ₹5 crore from M/s Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd. to fund Ata Pata Laapata.

The complainant alleged that in 2013, Yadav issued seven cheques worth ₹1.05 crore each to settle the financial assistance, all of which were subsequently dishonoured. According to a subsequent 2012 agreement between the parties, Yadav, his wife, and their production company had agreed to repay approximately ₹11 crore, including accrued interest.

Timeline of court directives

• September 8: The Supreme Court issued a notice on Yadav's plea, granting exemption from surrendering subject to a deposit of ₹5 crore with the court registry.
• September 15: The top court extended his exemption from surrendering until October 5.
• July 10: The Delhi High Court upheld Yadav’s conviction across multiple cheque-bounce cases and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment.

The High Court refused to condone an "extraordinary" delay of 1,894 days (over five years) in challenging the conviction and ordered Yadav to pay more than ₹1 crore to the complainant in each of the seven complaints. However, it clarified that roughly ₹2 crore already remitted by the actor would be adjusted, suspending the sentence for two months to allow him to appeal.

Additionally, the High Court directed the actor's wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, to pay a fine of approximately ₹5.5 lakh in each case, defaulting on which would attract three months of simple imprisonment.

The High Court’s order had dismissed revision petitions filed by Yadav and his wife against a 2019 Sessions Court judgment. That verdict had upheld an April 2018 Magisterial Court ruling, which originally sentenced the actor to six months in prison before reducing it to three months.