Videos of Rajpal Yadav being allegedly humiliated at an awards function are doing rounds on social media with many on the internet criticising comedian Zakir Khan and journalist Saurabh Dwivedi. Now, Rajpal has posted a video on his Instagram, clearing the air around the controversy.
At the Chetak Screen Awards held recently, Rajpal can be seen interacting with the show’s hosts Zakir and Saurabh. Rajpal mentions something about the wars going around in the world and the rupee falling against the dollar, to which Saurabh quips in Hindi, “no matter the rupee rises or falls, you will have to pay what you owe to the court.” This was a jibe at Rajpal’s ongoing court case because of undue payments of about Rs 9 crore. This didn’t sit well with social media users with many calling out Saurabh for making a cruel joke.
Clarifying what actually happened at the awards function, Rajpal posted a video of himself talking to the camera. He said in Hindi: “I was fortunate to go to the Screen awards the other day. I got a chance to meet the entire industry there. There was a lot of dancing, skits and singing. The atmosphere was great. Various skits were going on. One of the things that Saurabh and Zakir and I talked about was the world. There are wars in the world which impact the economy. Everything is going up and down. The common man has to get into this. We tried to make a skit for the entire world”.
He further mentioned, “Sometimes it happens in films. We design the scene but the meaning of the scene does not reach the audience in the right way. This is cinema. Saurabh and Zakir are like my younger brothers. They have always given me respect. They are my heart. We are artistes, journalists, painters, storytellers. We are always connected to each other. Saurabh made the entire auditorium stand up and applaud my work. Thank you, Saurabh”.
He also urged people to not criticise Saurabh. “Please do not hurt Saurabh's feelings. Hurting Saurabh's feelings means hurting my feelings. If you say anything about Saurabh, it will hurt my feelings. I love Saurabh, I love Zakir, I love you all. I am here because of you guys. Thank you”, he added.
Actor Salman Khan has also come in support of Rajpal. Taking to X, the actor posted a video of Rajpal from the awards function and wrote, " Rajpal bhai aap 30 yrs se kaam kar rahe ho aur hum sabne aapko repeat kiya hai baar baar kyunki aap apna kaam jante ho aur ek value laate ho. Kaam toh aapko bohot milega aur issi dollar rate pe milega aur milte rahega. Hakikat yeh hai (Rajpal bro, you have been working for 30 years and we have continuously worked with you because you know your work and also bring a certain value to it. Work will keep coming your way, and at the dollar rate only. And that's the reality).”
“Aur yeh yaad rakhna ke kabhi kabhi flow mai kuch nikal aata hai, dena hi hai toh dimag mai rakho dil se kaam karo, dollar upar ho ya neeche kya farak padta hai dena toh India mai hi hai @rajpalofficial (Remember, sometimes things are said in the flow. You do have to give (back) (don't reply), keep it in mind and work from the heart. Whether the dollar goes up or down, how does it matter, the payment is happening in India only)," he added.
Rajpal will next be seen in the upcoming horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla.