Rajpal Yadav makes his first public appearance amid Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case, greets paps with Chhota Pandit jump

Weeks after being caught in a Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case, Rajpal Yadav stepped out in Mumbai — and turned a routine paparazzi spotting into a throwback moment.

The actor, attending an event in the city, broke into a playful hop when photographers began chanting “Paani, paani,” a dialogue linked to his unforgettable Chhota Pandit character from Bhool Bhulaiyaa.




Dressed in a grey T-shirt layered with a green shirt and blue jeans, Rajpal folded his hands in greeting, blew kisses at the cameras and leaned fully into the nostalgia. The spontaneous jump left the media laughing and cheering.

Clips of the light moment quickly circulated online. Many users pointed out that despite the controversy, the actor appeared upbeat and in familiar comic form.

The case that led to jail

Rajpal’s appearance comes against the backdrop of a long-running Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case connected to his directorial venture Ata Pata Laapata. The loan, taken in 2010 to finance the project, reportedly remained unpaid, along with multiple post-dated cheques issued in relation to it.

In early February 2026, he was ordered to surrender to Tihar Jail. The actor complied and was subsequently granted interim bail by the Delhi High Court on February 17 after depositing part of the amount and meeting bail conditions. His sentence currently stands suspended until March 18, pending further proceedings.

Back to work mode

With interim relief in place, Rajpal has resumed shooting for Welcome to the Jungle, part of the Welcome franchise. The ensemble film features names like Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal.

He is also part of Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan and co-starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Tabu. The horror-comedy is slated for release on April 10, 2026.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”