Veteran actor Rajpal Yadav was a guest of honour at the Mid-Day Showbiz Awards this past weekend, where his contribution to cinema was acknowledged with a nomination for his impactful role in the upcoming Varun Dhawan-starrer Baby John. Known for his impeccable comic timing and unforgettable screen presence, Yadav left audiences stunned this time with his intense action sequence—a performance that drew unexpected applause.
While he’s long been celebrated for his unique brand of comedy, Yadav’s body of work spans a range of genres, including negative roles and now, high-octane action. Expressing his gratitude, the actor said, “I have an internal love and appreciation for Mid-Day and a bonding I share with them—like they are my family. And today, by recognising my worth beyond ‘comedy is a serious business,’ they have reinstated my faith in them.”
Rajpal Yadav is the desi Jackie Chan
Reflecting on the shift in his onscreen image, Rajpal shared how his action scenes led to questions from fans and colleagues alike, “Many people have asked me why hadn’t we seen you in an action role for so many years, and I had only one thing to say which is the truth—I hadn’t been presented with an opportunity. Once I was, I grabbed it faster than a monkey does a banana and gave my fullest.”
In his signature witty tone, he added, “You will see Jackie Chan-level action—in fact, you’ll see the desi Jackie Chan with 36 Jackie Chans all together.”
There was, of course, no shortage of humour in the conversation. When asked about his inspiration for comedy, Yadav quipped, “Well, I take much inspiration from myself,”—a response as self-aware as it was entertaining. He elaborated further, “If the question is where did I learn it from, then the answer is: I embodied creativity as a stance in comedy from Charlie Chaplin. However, I do not copy or mimic him.”
I am only born now, wait till my Golden jubilee
Even after 25 years in the film industry, Rajpal Yadav seems only to be getting started. In a candid moment, he described how this milestone marks the foundation for the next chapter of his journey, “Just trust me when I say this—everything you all have been wanting to see me as in the last 25 years, you will be delivered with in my next 25. The last 25 were merely groundwork. I am born now, and now is when my story of dreams starts.”
With a strong sense of purpose and vision, he added, “There are a hundred roles I wish to do and for which I have been working relentlessly, pouring my heart out for the last 25 years. Now that I have completed a silver jubilee and am on my path to hopefully 50 whole years marking the golden, you are all about to see the side of me I have dreamt of for more than two decades.”
Rajpal Yadav has ‘ek darjan’ upcoming projects
Rajpal Yadav also gave Mid-Day an exclusive glimpse into his upcoming projects. When asked what audiences can expect next, he responded playfully, “Haina, lagbhag ek darjan,” which translates to “Yes, almost a dozen!”
Among these are international projects, local productions, and appearances across OTT platforms in both films and web series. His creative calendar is full—and fans can expect to see him across genres, languages, and platforms.
But amid all the variety, Yadav says one thing remains constant: staying true to his roots. “They are all different characters and roles, but I am getting the opportunity to do the Rajpal-coded ones—and that’s what I live to bring to you.” In this lively and heartfelt exchange, one thing is clear—we haven’t seen all that Rajpal Yadav has to offer. And if his words are any indication, the best may still be ahead