Rajpal Yadav Reflects On Leaving Politics, Navigating Bollywood Typecasting

NEW DELHI (ANI) – Rajpal Yadav, known for his memorable comic performances in films like Hungama, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Dhol, has clarified why he stepped away from politics and continues to resist being boxed into repetitive comic roles in Bollywood.

Yadav shared that his departure from politics in 2019 was largely influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s environmental initiatives. “Jal, jungle, zameen, paryavaran, pahad—these were my areas of passion. I realized that the kind of changes I aspired to make were already being implemented by Modiji,” he said. Citing Modi’s ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ campaign, Yadav added, “He united citizens to fight against all odds. That gave me peace of mind to leave politics.”

Yadav had launched his own political outfit, the Sarva Sambhav Party (SSP), nearly a decade ago but ultimately chose to focus on his film career. “It’s difficult to do both jobs—acting and politics—together. Both demand full-time commitment. And ‘kala’ (art) is my first love. That’s where I feel at home,” he stated.

The actor also addressed being typecast in comedic roles. “I try to avoid characters of the same mentality,” he explained. “If I keep playing similar roles, I’m not doing justice to my craft. I look for variety in every script.”

Joining the ranks of actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Urmila Matondkar—who also forayed into politics but later returned to cinema—Yadav emphasized that his focus remains firmly on his artistic journey.