‘The business of entertainment lacks soul today’ : Raghubir Yadav

In Delhi to attend the Sahitya utsav, Jashn-e-Adab, Raghubir Yadav talks about his creative metamorphosis from an actor to a passionate fan of Hindi and Urdu poetry

Fresh from wrapping up Season 2 of Panchayat and crime thriller Six Suspects, actor Raghubir Yadav says he is the kind of artiste who rarely falls into a cultural limbo. Even though he is acclaimed as an actor, it is music, poetry, singing and set designing that keeps him going.

“I am never out of work, because I do not chase fame or money but focus on doing good work,” says the actor, who has essayed memorable character roles from his debut film Massey Sahib in 1985 to recent OTT release Pagglait in 2020. “I do not work according to the ways and pace of the film industry but wait till I get a role that I am completely convinced about.”

That he has been a vital part of six films (Peepli Live, Rudali, Bandit Queen, Salaam Bombay, Lagaan and Newton) that were India’s nominations to the Oscars has been celebrated. But what many do not know is his penchant for poetry. “Poetry is often overlooked but it fosters pluralism and shows courage to speak against injustices,” says Yadav, “The ‘maahaul’ (ambience) in our society today is such that we can bank on democratic forms of speech and art to empower those who have the will to change things.”