Veteran actor Raghubir Yadav has opened up about the hardships that shaped his remarkable journey from a village near Jabalpur to becoming one of India’s most respected actors. However, despite surviving on as little as Rs 2.50 a day, sleeping hungry and staying away from home for two decades, the Panchayat star refuses to describe his life as a struggle.In a recent conversation with ABP Live, Yadav reflected on his unconventional path to acting and explained why he sees his experiences as lessons rather than hardships.
‘People call it struggle, I don’t’
Having spent over five decades in the entertainment industry since joining the National School of Drama (NSD) in 1974, Yadav said he never viewed his journey through the lens of struggle.“Acting is not easy, but it is enjoyable. People call it struggle, but I never considered my life a struggle. I worked hard and enjoyed the process,” he said.The Panchayat actor believes the word “struggle” is often overused and romanticised.“Every art form demands practice. Whether you are a musician, dancer or actor, you have to keep learning and rehearsing. Even today, I feel there is so much left to learn. For me, life has always been a school, a place of learning,” he added.
Running away from home after failing in science
The actor revealed that his entry into theatre was triggered by academic failure.After being persuaded to study science because it promised a stable career, Yadav realised he was unlikely to clear his board examinations.“I already knew I was going to fail,” he recalled.Worried about the outcome, he decided to leave home with a friend and eventually landed in Lalitpur, where a theatre company run by actor Annu Kapoor‘s father was performing.What began as an escape from failure soon turned into a lifelong calling.
Surviving on Rs 2.50 a day and sleeping hungry
Yadav’s early theatre days were far from glamorous.After auditioning with the song “Badli teri nazar to nazare badal gaye,” he was hired by theatre owner Madanlal Kapoor for Rs 2.50 a day.But even that amount wasn’t guaranteed.“I was supposed to earn Rs 2.50 a day, but sometimes I received even less. We would buy flour and tomatoes, make rotis and chutney and survive,” he said.Recalling those days, he revealed that there were times when gamblers nearby would eat their food, leaving them hungry for the night.Despite the hardships, Yadav described the experience as one of the most important learning phases of his life. It was during this period that he learned Urdu, improved his pronunciation and immersed himself in music and theatre.
A promise to his father and 20 years away from home
Yadav also shared that after leaving home, he wrote a letter to his father assuring him that he would never do anything that would bring disgrace to the family.Although he briefly returned after six months, a relative’s sarcastic remark changed everything.“He said, ‘We thought we’d only see you on a cinema screen.’ I felt so embarrassed that I left again the same night,” Yadav recalled.The actor revealed that he did not properly return to his village for nearly 20 years. He finally went back after receiving international recognition for his acclaimed film Massey Sahib.
‘Failing was the biggest blessing of my life’
Looking back, Yadav believes failing in science ultimately led him to discover his true purpose.“Even today, I consider failing in science one of the greatest blessings of my life. Had I not failed, I might never have become an actor,” he said.After years in theatre and puppet performances in Lucknow, Yadav secured admission to NSD, paving the way for a celebrated career that later included films such as Massey Sahib and Salaam Bombay!.Today, despite decades of success and recognition, the veteran actor remains committed to learning, insisting that his journey was never about struggle but about growth.“The journey unfolded on its own,” he said.
