Actor Rajpal Yadav appeared before the Supreme Court on Wednesday in connection with a long-running cheque-bounce case and spoke about the financial struggles he faced after his film Ata Pata Laapata suffered major losses.
During the hearing, Rajpal told the court that he was ready to pay ₹2 crore towards the amount due to the complainant. He presented a demand draft of ₹1.15 crore, while the buyer of his property, who was expected to arrange the remaining ₹85 lakh, was also present in court.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, directed Rajpal to deposit the remaining ₹85 lakh by October 13. The court said it would consider his plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s conviction and three-month sentence after he complies with the payment direction.
Rajpal Yadav Talks About His Film’s Losses
After the formal hearing, the judges had a lighter and more informal conversation with Rajpal. During the exchange, the actor spoke about the difficult financial situation he faced because of Ata Pata Laapata.
Rajpal reportedly told the court that the film resulted in huge losses and that the producers also suffered financially. He explained that despite the film’s failure and the losses surrounding it, he continued to face the financial liability connected with the loan taken for its production.
The CJI then made a humorous reference to the film’s title and told the actor, “Like your movie, your money is also Ata Pata Laapata, gayab.”
The remark brought a lighter moment to an otherwise serious hearing. The CJI also advised Rajpal to make a good film and entertain audiences, adding jokingly that lawyers appearing before the Supreme Court were also good actors and could potentially be cast in his movies.
Supreme Court Gives Rajpal More Time
The Supreme Court made it clear that the extension was being granted specifically to help secure payment to the complainant. The bench also warned Rajpal that his conduct had not fully satisfied the court.
The court said that if he failed to comply, it could consider strict action, including enhancement of his punishment.
Rajpal’s lawyer explained that the actor had gone to the court registry to make the payment but could not complete the transaction through RTGS. He therefore brought a demand draft of ₹1.15 crore.
For the remaining ₹85 lakh, the purchaser of his property was present in court and agreed to make the payment.
How Ata Pata Laapata Led to the Legal Battle
The case goes back to 2010, when Rajpal Yadav reportedly took a loan of more than ₹5 crore from M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd for the production of Ata Pata Laapata.
According to the case details, the loan was supposed to be repaid through a series of cheques. Seven cheques worth ₹1.05 crore each were reportedly dishonoured, leading to the cheque-bounce proceedings.
Over the years, the outstanding amount increased because of interest and other charges.
The Delhi High Court later convicted Rajpal in the matter and imposed a three-month sentence. The Supreme Court subsequently took up his appeal and directed him to deposit ₹2 crore as part of the proceedings.
Rajpal Says the Film Changed His Life Financially
During his interaction with the court, Rajpal also spoke about his career and the impact the film had on him.
He reportedly told the judges that he has worked in more than 250 films over 13 years, but the financial difficulties connected to Ata Pata Laapata continued to affect him.
He also spoke about the impact of the case on his reputation and said that he had spent more than six months in jail during the prolonged legal battle.
According to Rajpal’s lawyer, the film was planned as a joint venture, but the actor eventually found himself dealing with the situation largely on his own.
Rajpal also claimed that the film could not run properly in theatres because of a court stay, which contributed to the financial losses.
Court Hopes Rajpal Has Learnt a Lesson
The Supreme Court has now given Rajpal another opportunity to comply with its payment direction. The actor has already arranged ₹1.15 crore through a demand draft and is expected to deposit the remaining ₹85 lakh by October 13.
The CJI once again referred to the title of Rajpal’s film while telling him that his money had become “gayab and lapata” and expressed hope that he had learnt a lesson.
The court also encouraged the actor to focus on making good films and entertaining audiences, suggesting that rebuilding his professional reputation could help him move forward.
For Rajpal Yadav, the hearing was not only about a long-running financial dispute but also a reminder of one of the most difficult chapters of his career. Despite the losses and legal troubles surrounding Ata Pata Laapata, the actor continues to remain active in the film industry and is looking ahead to new opportunities.
