Theatre Yadav has 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 villages, towns and cities of India with the 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 was seen in many milestone films in the following decades. He has starred in three films that have received
Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film namely,
Salaam Bombay!,
Water and
Lagaan. Raghubir Yadav is one of the few
Indian actors 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). He has acted in
Firaaq. In 2011, he played the lead role in the film
Dear Friend Hitler, which derives its name from the two letters
Mahatma Gandhi wrote
Adolf Hitler, in 1939, immediately before
World War II, and on
Christmas Eve in 1940, after the war had started, to prevent and to stop the war.
Television Yadav started his television career with the
television program Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne (1989), playing the lead character "Mungerilal" and in the television series
Amaravathi ki Kathayein (1994-1995). Later, he played the roles of
Haji Nasruddin in the television program
Mullah Nasruddin (also spelled as
Mulla Nasiruddin) and the lead in
Chacha Chaudhary. He also played the lead role in
Arjun Pandit.
Music • He composed and sang in films that include
Maya Memsaab, Massey Sahib, Rudaali, Aasmaan Se Gira, O Darling Yeh Hai India, Samar, Sunday, Darna Mana hai, Ramaji London Waale, Billu and
Dilli 6. He sang the title song of
Chacha Chaudhary. He sang a song in Amir Khan's
Peepli Live called "Mehngai Dayain" with bhadwai village mandli in which he was later praised by many of Indian film fraternity and public at large. • He provided singing and voice for ads: Pepsi, Parle, Vim, Kotak Mahindra, Icy Cool Mint, Coke, Midday, Bagh Bakari Chai, Crack cream, Maggie Mania, Britannia etc. • He also sang and composed the famous MP tourism ad -'MP ajab hai, sabse gajab hai' • He composed the music for
Ghasiram Kotwal,
Chotte Sayeed Bade Sayeed,
Chaupra Kamaal Naukar Jamal and
Chacha Chaudhary, ballet for song and drama division. Composed and sang "Maggie Mania", conceived, written and composed by Ramlila for
Dilli 6. • He recently collaborated with Hitesh Sonik to sing 'Lamh Tera' in the second episode of Coke Studio @ MTV, Season 2. The show was aired on MTV India on 14 July and this song was the fifth and last to be shown on the show. The song is a folk song from Madhya Pradesh. In ancient times, the journey from one place to another would take days. People while travelling would then usually sing to ensure everyone is safe. This style of singing was called 'lum tera'. A member/group at the front of the caravan would sing loudly (lambi ter) and the members/groups at the end would sing back as a response, thereby ensuring connectivity. • He has sung a song, "Bhagan ke Rekhan ki bahangiya" in the movie
Issaq. Raghubir has shown his talent again. ==Awards==