Who Was Rajpal Yadav's First Wife, Karuna, Whom He Married At 20? What Led To Her Tragic Death?

Rajpal Yadav is a name that hardly needs any introduction. The ace Bollywood actor had a breakthrough with Ram Gopal Varma’s film, Jungle, in 2000. With films like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Phir Hera Pheri, Partner, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Hungama, Malamaal Weekly, Garam Masala, Bhoothnath, Krrish 3, and many more, Rajpal has established himself as a name in slapstick comedy.

The actor is currently making headlines after he surrendered at Delhi's Tihar Jail on February 5, 2026, to serve a six-month prison sentence. For the unversed, the case for which Rajpal has surrendered is a decade-long financial dispute over a Rs. 5 crore loan he took in 2010 for his directorial debut film, Ata Pata Laapata. However, when multiple cheques issued to M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd bounced, a magisterial court convicted Rajpal and his second wife, Radha.

Though Rajpal Yadav’s career has seen many highs, his personal life has been traumatic. The actor who got married at the mere age of 20 lost his wife, Karuna, in a tragedy. Let us read on to know more about her and what led to her death.

Rajpal Yadav got married to Karuna when he was just 20

Rajpal Yadav had an arranged marriage with Karuna when he was just 20. Their marriage was arranged by Rajpal's father after he secured a stable job at a clothing factory. In an interview with The Lallantop, the actor spoke about his marriage and revealed:

“Back in the day, if you were a 20-year-old man with a job, people would ask your family to get you married. So, my father got me married.”

What led to Rajpal Yadav’s wife, Karuna’s tragic death

When Rajpal thought life would be smooth sailing, tragedy struck. Karuna gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Jyoti, in 1991. However, due to medical complications, she passed away shortly after giving birth to Jyoti. The actor was all set to meet his wife, Karuna, who just delivered a baby to him, but ended up carrying her dead body for the last rites.

It was one of the most tragic moments of his life when he had no clue how he would raise his daughter single-handedly. But his family stood up for him and helped him raise his daughter. Speaking about Karuna’s tragic demise, he said:

“My first wife just delivered a baby, a daughter, and died. I was supposed to meet her the next day but was then carrying her dead body on my shoulders. But thanks to my family, my mother, my sister-in-law, it never felt like my daughter didn’t have her mother, she grew up with a lot of love.”

Rajpal Yadav’s second wife, Radha, is 9 years younger than him

12 years after his first wife, Karuna’s demise, Rajpal Yadav met Radha, who was nine years younger than him. He met her in Canada during the shooting of one of his films, and the two fell in love. They kept in touch after he came back to India and confessed their feelings for one another. After dating for two years, the duo got married in an intimate ceremony in 2003.

Radha not only became a mother to Jyoti, but also adapted to Rajpal’s culture. Besides raising Jyoti, Radha also mothered her two biological daughters with Rajpal Yadav: Harshita Yadav, the elder, and Rehanshi Yadav, the younger. Speaking about Radha adapting to his culture, the comedian stated:

“Believe you me, I have never asked my wife to wear saree or anything. The way I talk to my mother, my wife talks to her the same way. She learnt the language, one day when I reached the village, I saw that woh muh dhak ke baithi hui hai, because in villages women live a certain way. Whenever she visits the village–during Holi and Diwali–no one can gauge that she knows five languages! There was zero effort from my side."

Did you know about Rajpal Yadav’s first wife, Karuna’s tragic death?

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