Students of a gurukul school in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have voiced their disappointment after actor-comedian Rajpal Yadav did not meet them, despite their earlier act of kindness when they sent him money saved from their pocket expenses during his time in jail. Responding to the matter, Yadav said he had only recently returned home and had not yet been able to spend adequate time with his family. He assured that he would certainly meet the children, embrace them, and take photographs with them.

School officials stated that nearly 40 students from Gurukul Seva Trust collected money in a piggy bank from their personal savings and mailed it to Yadav’s ancestral address in Kundra on February 21 as a gesture of support while he was incarcerated. Along with the money, they included an emotional letter expressing their wish to meet him after his release.

In a 29-second video that has since gone viral, the students greet him and congratulate him on returning home. They question whether he received their contribution and express sadness over not receiving any response. The children added that even if a meeting was not possible, he could have at least spoken to them to acknowledge their support.

In a phone conversation with Press Trust of India, Yadav said he was still gathering information about those who had helped him. Initially told that the children were from an orphanage, he remarked that children living in an ashram are not orphans in his view. Upon learning that they were from a gurukul school, he reaffirmed his respect for the guru tradition and described the children as his own, promising to meet them soon. Kumar Sagar, chairman of Gurukul Seva Trust, said the piggy bank was collectively filled by students, with some extra amount added before sending it.

Yadav had borrowed Rs 5 crore in 2010 from Murli Projects Private Limited to finance his film Ata Pata Lapata. He was later jailed after failing to repay the loan. It was during this period that the students sent their savings as a symbolic show of support. Known for his comic performances in Hindi cinema, Yadav is originally from Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh.