Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Raghubir Yadav Recalls Hunger, Learning and Six Years in Theatre
Raghubir Yadav left home because he was embarrassed about possibly failing Class 12.
He went to Lalitpur and found a travelling theatre group.
The group taught plays, music, languages and hard work.
Yadav travelled with them for six years across several parts of India.
He earned very little money and sometimes went to sleep hungry.
The performers shared food and cooked simple meals together.
Madanlal Kapoor helped Yadav improve his Urdu pronunciation.
Yadav says those difficult years were also some of the happiest and most useful years of his life.
He later studied at the National School of Drama and became a well-known actor.
Raghubir Yadav left home after learning he might fail Class 12 examinations.
He joined Madanlal Kapoor’s Bhopal Theatre after reaching Lalitpur with a friend.
Yadav spent six years touring villages and cities across North and Central India.
He earned Rs 2.50 a day, or Rs 1 to Rs 1.50 during rainy periods.
He later studied at the National School of Drama and made his film debut in Massey Sahib.
- Who
- Actor Raghubir Yadav, along with members of Madanlal Kapoor’s Bhopal Theatre troupe.
- What
- Yadav recalled leaving home, joining travelling Parsi theatre, facing hunger and learning the craft before beginning his film career.
- When
- He spent six years with the theatre troupe; the articles do not specify the dates.
- Where
- The troupe performed across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, after Yadav met it in Lalitpur.
- Why
- Yadav left home after learning he was likely to fail Class 12 and later joined theatre to continue learning and performing.
- Daily pay
- Rs 2.50 a day, falling to Rs 1 or Rs 1.50 during rainy periods.
- Theatre period
- Six years of travelling with a Parsi theatre troupe.
- Theatre company
- Bhopal Theatre, run by Madanlal Kapoor.
- Living conditions
- Performers sometimes shared simple meals and occasionally went to sleep hungry.
- Training
- Madanlal Kapoor helped Yadav learn Urdu and improve his pronunciation.
- Film debut
- Massey Sahib in 1985.
- Later recognition
- Yadav became known for roles in films including Lagaan, Peepli Live and Newton, and for television roles in Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne and Panchayat.