Raghubir Yadav (Raghuvir Yadav) is a two-time International Award winner Indian stage, film and television actor, music composer, singer, and set designer.
He spent the early years of his life in Jabalpur, a city in Madhya Pradesh. He ran away from home and joined the Parsi Theatre Company at the age of fifteen. He later moved to Delhi, where he joined the National School of Drama (NSD), graduating with a Specialization in Stagecraft in 1977.He was married in 1988 with Poornima but in 1996 filed for divorce in Jabalpur. He was arrested in Mumbai on 4 June by Mumbai Police on the charge of not paying maintenance to his divorcee wife.
Theatre Yadav performed as an actor and singer in over 70 plays and about 2500 shows, travelling in Caravans, living in tents and performing on makeshift stages in various villages, towns and cities of India, Parsi Theatre Company (1967 - 1973). He was with the Rangoli Puppet Theatre, Lucknow (1973 - 1974), performing with Glove Puppets. At the National School of Drama Repertory (1977 - 1986), he acted in about 40 plays in over 2000 shows. He has also contributed to music, sets, costumes and masks.
Film He made his film debut with Massey Sahib (1985) in which he played the title role. Incidentally he has never won the National Award but Two International Awards as Best Actor for Massey Sahib, FIPRESCI Critic's Award, Venice Film Festival, 1986 and the Best Actor Silver Peacock, IIFI, 1987. The film also starred the noted writer and social activist, Arundhati Roy. He was seen in many milestone films in the coming decades. Three films that he has acted in have received Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film (Salaam Bombay!, Lagaan, and Water). Raghubir Yadav is the only Indian actor to have received the Silver Peacock Best Actor Award, at the International Film Festival of India. His most acclaimed role was as the drug addicted "Chillum" in Salaam Bombay! (1988)