When Rajpal Yadav recalled the death of his first wife during daughter's birth, "carried her dead body on my shoulders but..."

Rajpal Yadav was earlier married to Karuna, who sadly passed away in 1991, during the birth of their daughter Jyoti.

• Rajpal Yadav is in Tihar Jail over a Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case.
• He lost his first wife Karuna in 1991 and later married Radha in 2003.
• Radha raised Rajpal's elder daughter Jyoti as her own and supported his family.

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Actor Rajpal Yadav, best-known for his marvellous comic timing in Bollywood films, is currently enduring one of the most challenging phases of his life. The actor is lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a cheque bounce case amounting to Rs 9 crore. However, this is not the first time Rajpal is facinga setback in his life. His personal life has also seen profound tragedy long before his current legal troubles.

Rajpal Yadav was earlier married to Karuna, who sadly passed away in 1991, during the birth of their daughter Jyoti. He then later married his second wife, Radha with whom he shares two daughters- Harshita and Rehanshi.

In an old interview with The Lallantop, Rajpal recalled the darkest time of his life when he couldn't bear the heavy weight of emotions at the mere age of 20.

He shared that his father had arranged his marriage to Karuna soon after he secured a job at the Ordnance Clothing Factory.

Recounting the tragic moment, Rajpal revealed that he was not present during Karuna’s delivery and had planned to meet her the following day. Fate, however, had other plans, leaving him to carry her body on his shoulders instead. He recalled, "Back in the day, if you were a 20-year-old man with a job, people would ask your family to get you married. So, my father got me married. My first wife, she just delivered a baby, a daughter, and died. I was supposed to meet her the next day but was then carrying her dead body on my shoulders. But thanks to my family, my mother, my sister-in-law, it never felt like my daughter didn’t have her mother, she grew up with a lot of love.”

Following Karuna’s death, Rajpal immersed himself in his work and focused on establishing his acting career. Over time, he found emotional stability and companionship in Radha, whom he met while shooting The Hero in 2001. Their bond grew stronger, and they eventually tied the knot in 2003 after receiving approval from both families.

Speaking about their relationship, Rajpal said, “I was 31 and then I met Radha. I had gone to shoot The Hero in 2001, where we met and remained in touch. We got married in 2003, after both families agreed to it.”

The actor has often expressed heartfelt gratitude towards Radha for standing by him and supporting his family unconditionally. He has acknowledged her role in raising Jyoti, his daughter from his first marriage, as her own, highlighting the strong bond they share today.

Sharing his appreciation, Rajpal said, “After my guru, my parents, the one who supported me the most is my wife, 100 percent. Radha also raised the daughter I had from my first wife, as her own. She (Rajpal's elder daughter, Jyoti) is in Lucknow today, happily married but the credit goes to my family and wife (Radha). I did nothing, I was just a medium, everything came along and helped.”

Also read: What is Rajpal Yadav controversy and why is he in Tihar jail now?

Rajpal further spoke about how seamlessly Radha adapted to his family after marriage, learning their traditions and values, and becoming an integral part of their lives.

For the uninitiated, the legal trouble currently faced by Rajpal dates back to 2010, when he and Radha reportedly took a loan of Rs 5 crore to produce a film. Unfortunately, the project failed at the box office, and the couple was unable to repay the borrowed amount. In 2018, a case was filed against them, with the lender alleging that the money was never returned.

Also read: Rajpal Yadav cheque bounce case: Kamaal R Khan offers Rs 10 Lakh, appeals industry for help

That same year, a magistrate court found Rajpal Yadav guilty under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, commonly known as the cheque bounce law, and sentenced him to six months in jail. Rajpal challenged the verdict in higher courts, leading to years of delay during which he made partial repayments.

However, in 2026, the Delhi High Court declined to grant any further relief and directed the actor to either clear the dues or surrender. Unable to arrange the remaining amount, Rajpal Yadav eventually surrendered and was taken to Tihar Jail.