Actor Rajpal Yadav, who was recently granted interim bail in his long-running cheque bounce and debt case, expressed gratitude to those who stood by him during a difficult phase. At the same time, he addressed comments made by Sonu Sood about offering him work, clarifying that he does not see himself as someone in need of professional support.Responding to the development in a conversation with HT City, Sonu said, “Happy for him. I didn’t say he needs work. I said, ‘Sign him and pay advances because he deserves it.’”

Earlier, while speaking to Screen, Rajpal reacted to Sonu’s initial remarks and set the record straight. “Please get over the misconception that I need to keep asking for work. And there is no shame in asking for work. I live through my job, cinema is my passion, and I work in such a way that I get four times more work. I work even on vacations. Work doesn’t find me; it has lived with me for the last 11 years.”When Rajpal surrendered at Tihar Jail earlier this year, Sonu had publicly appealed to the film fraternity to rally behind him. In a note shared on Instagram Stories, Sonu wrote, “Rajpal Yadav is a gifted actor who has given years of unforgettable work to our industry. Sometimes life turns unfair, not because of talent, but because timing can be brutal. He will be part of my film, and I believe this is the moment for all of us, producers, directors, colleagues, to stand together. A small signing amount, adjustable against future work, is not charity; it’s dignity. When one of our own is going through a tough phase, the industry must remind him he’s not alone. This is how we show we are more than just an industry.”The legal battle dates back to 2010, when Rajpal borrowed Rs 5 crore from M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to finance his directorial venture, Ata Pata Laapata. The film failed at the box office, and subsequent repayment issues escalated into prolonged litigation.In April 2018, a magistrate court convicted Rajpal and his wife, Radha, in the cheque bounce case, sentencing him to six months in jail. The Sessions Court upheld the ruling in early 2019, prompting Rajpal to move the Delhi High Court in appeal. In June 2024, the High Court temporarily suspended his sentence and directed him to take “sincere and genuine measures” to clear dues amounting to nearly Rs 9 crore. However, on February 2 this year, the court ordered him to surrender, observing that he had repeatedly failed to fulfil his repayment commitments.