One of the most popular artists in the comedy and satire genres, this actor lived a life of nomads in the early stages of his career.
Making a name in the filmy world, where actors flaunt their handsome looks and chiselled bodies, is a daunting task. Debauching the stereotypical hero looks, there are some actors who carved a name for themselves solely based on their talent. They are the average-looking supporting actors who make the hero look good.
From Paresh Rawal to Peeyush Mishra, Hindi cinema has an array of talents who never gave importance to their looks and still won many hearts. One such actor is Raghubir Yadav, who has, over the years, given several hits along with Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and many other superstars.
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The actor is currently ruling the OTT space with the third season of the popular web series, Panchayat. In the series, Raghubir Yadav, who plays the role of ‘Brij Bhushan Dubey’, ‘Pradhan-Pati’, is hailed for his versatility. However, the road to success was not easy for Raghubir as he struggled a lot to earn his name and fame. Let us delve into some unknown aspects of Raghubir’s life.
Born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Raghubir Yadav is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. He started his career in theatre and has appeared in over 70 plays and 2500 shows. The actor, who is one of the most popular names in the entertainment industry, once lived the life of a nomad. After failing in class 11th, Raghubir ran away from his home to become a musician.
While working with the Parsi Theatre Company, Raghubir lived in tents. According to a report in the Navbharat Times, Raghubir used to drive bullock carts and graze buffaloes. He also endured hunger for many days and, like a nomad, shifted his home from one place to another to do shows. Raghubir finally got his big break with the television show, Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne in 1994, in which he played the lead character. He also played the lead role in the television series Chacha Chaudhary.
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Raghubir Yadav made his film debut with Massey Sahib, which was followed by many super hit films like 1942: A Love Story, Aaja Nachle, Dilli 6, Peepli Live, Gandhi To Hitler, and many others. He has worked with Shah Rukh Khan in Maya Memsaab, Aamir Khan in Lagaan, Salman Khan in Khamosi: The Musical, and Deepika Padukone in Piku.
Raghubir Yadav is one of the few actors, who have received the Silver Peacock Best Actor Award at the International Film Festival of India. He has been a part of the three films, (Salaam Bombay, Water and Lagaan), which received Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film.
Not many people know this, but Raghubir Yadav is also an acclaimed singer and composer. He has sung for films like Maya Memsaab, Massey Sahib, Rudaali, Darna Mana Hai, Ramji Londonwaley, Billu, Dilli 6 and many others. He has also sung for advertisements like Pepsi, Parle, Vim, Maggie Mania and a few others.
Raghubir Yadav married Poornima Kharga in 1988, but the couple separated in 1995. Poornima claimed that Raghubir had left him for another woman. The actor’s estranged wife also claimed that she left her career as an international Kathak dancer to support Raghubir during his struggle in the industry.
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In her shocking claims, Raghubir Yadav’s wife, Poornima Kharga accused the actor of having an extra-marital affair with filmmaker and actress, Nandita Das. Poornima claimed that her marriage with Raghubir started going wrong within seven years when he fell in love with Nandita Das. In an interview with SpotboyE, Purnima elaborated on the same and said:
“Raghu took Nandita to his parents in Jabalpur and filed for divorce. Apparently, he wanted to marry Nandita however Nandita left him, she told him one day that she's fallen in love with someone else. Besides, many people had started telling Nandita that she should not settle down with Raghubir as it would be only messy."
Raghubir Yadav has been living separately from his wife, Poornima Kharga, since 1995. The duo has a 30-year-old son too. Poornima had filed for divorce earlier but withdrew it later. Speaking to SpotbyE, Poornima revealed Raghubir’s live-in relationship with actor, Sanjay Mishra’s wife, Roshni Achreja and fathering their 14-year-old son.
Raghuvir’s ex-wife, Poornima stated that the actor started having an affair with Roshni when he shifted to Sanjay’s apartment. Raghuvir’s constant visits brought the two close, and their affair began. In Poornima’s words:
“Raghubir is living-in with Sanjay Mishra's wife Roshni Achreja. He himself has admitted in Court. They have a 14-year-old son!”
Ever since their separation, Poornima has been receiving Rs. 40,000 per month. Earlier, Poornima stated that Raghubir wasn’t paying her monthly maintenance on time. Purnima shockingly revealed that in 2019, she was unpaid for almost five months, as she had received not a single penny from her estranged husband, because of which she had to sell her house.
Poornima filed for divorce in 2020 and demanded interim maintenance of Rs. 1 lakh and alimony of Rs. 10 crores. She has also accused Raghubir of transferring most of his assets to Roshni’s name to avoid paying maintenance.
With his hard work, Raghubir Yadav managed to rule the silver screen with several versatile roles, but his personal life has been subject to many controversies. Let us know your views on the successful professional journey of Raghubir Yadav.
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