Rajpal Yadav and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are no more than two struggling actors who were trying to find their way to survive in Mumbai long before fame, awards, and headlines made it into their lives.

Today, when Rajpal Yadav is in a mess of the law, an ancient memory of Nawazuddin has resurfaced – and it creates a picture of the human side of the performer that is largely seen as a comic figure.

During one of the interviews in the past, Nawazuddin recalled that the house of Rajpal Yadav used to be rather a langar, a place where anyone could find food whenever he or she needed it. When Rajpal started receiving regular work and his economic state was getting better, he did not close his doors. Instead, he opened them wider. Unsuccessful actors, friends and theatre co-workers would sit around his house regularly, since they were sure of a warm meal and a feeling of belonging.

Also read: Why Rajpal Yadav Went to Tihar Jail: Inside the ₹9 Crore Loan & Cheque Bounce Case Explained

Nawazuddin reminisced that a lot of people used to eat there, and nobody had ever been refused. When even surviving in the city was a challenge, the generosity of Rajpal was a silent savior to a number of people who had their dreams yet to pursue with no money in their pockets.

This is an old story that has just received a new twist after Rajpal Yadav suffered a blow due to the cheque-bounce case that is tied to his directorial project Ata Pata Laapata. As the legal case rages on, the industry and the fans at large have been re-telling tales that point to who is Rajpal Yadav off screen.Such stories are exceptional in a business that has been allegedly cut-throat.

They remind us that the success does not just simply rely on the box office counts but also on the appearance of the person to others when they can afford to stand up. To a lot of struggling actors, Rajpal Yadav was not merely an actor but a family.