EXCLUSIVE: Sharad Kelkar on being the voice of Shri Ram in Prabhas’ Adipurush: My daughter will be proud

Sharad Kelkar has made a formidable name for himself in the Indian film industry with his illustrious work choices over the years. From different mediums to different languages, the actor has done it all. As much as he is known for his acting chops, Sharad Kelkar is also known for voicing for Prabhas in Hindi in Baahubali and now in Adipurush as well. He recently released his Marathi film Har Har Mahadev that has been receiving immense love from all over the nation, and to discuss the film and other things like the pan-Indian emergence of Marathi cinema, being recognised for his voice, giving his vocals for Adipurush and his reunion with Ajay Devgn, amidst more, Sharad Kelkar indulged in an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble. Read excerpts from the interview here:

 

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You played the character of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Tanhaji and in Har Har Mahadev you play his right hand man, Baji Prabhu Deshpande. How was it seeing someone else play a character that you have already done once, in front of you?

“When Abhijeet Deshpande, my director, approached me for this role, I was quite excited as someone was seeing me in a different part altogether. This character has a lot of back story to it that no one is telling. As for seeing another actor play the character of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, when anyone doing that comes in front of you, you don’t see the actor, you see the legend in front of you, you see Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Subodh (Bhave) is such a fluid actor and in Marathi, we call him the biopic king. He is a fantastic actor and the support I got from him was just phenomenal.”

 

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Today, when we talk about pan-Indian cinema, it’s not just Tamil, Telugu and Hindi per say, the range of languages is increasing, including Marathi, How does it feel to be a part of that change?

“I can proudly say that we are the change here. From day 1 we decided that we wanted to make this film a certain way so that we can represent the Marathi industry in the Indian film industry. No longer will we be the small Marathi industry and why not? People always appreciated Marathi cinema for its content, performances and actors, the only thing missing was the scale and the grandeur. We analysed that and from the beginning, we decided that we want to give such a film to the audience that can be regarded as a pan-Indian film and represent us in the big game. And I am sure after this, more filmmakers will do that.

I did my first Marathi film in 2005 which got a National Award. From that day to Lai Bhari and now Har Har Mahadev, I could see that we are good, but we aren’t excellent. So, the journey from good to excellent needed some time, efforts, vision and some risks too. To be in the game, you need to take risk and that’s the mentality we need to generate in Marathi cinema as well. I fight for that. After Har Har Mahadev, I am sure people will start thinking in this way.”

 

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You have divulged in different mediums, different languages and have always taken risks in your career from the start. You left TV when you were at your peak, then after becoming one of the topmost character actors in Hindi films, you stepped in regional cinema as well…

“I was doing multiple things at one point of time and one line came in my mind that any person can’t become a hero with just one film. Their work makes them the hero. So, I thought working on my craft might make me a hero and not in the typical sense perhaps, a hero of my own life rather. I would rather be the hero of my own life then, initially, be the hero on the screen. So, I think that paid off. I feel there were chances that if I had tried only for hero films, I would have achieved nothing. Now, the acceptance I got from the audiences and the industry is very important for me. For an untrained actor, to be considered as an actor is a big achievement for me.”

 

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Was there a particular project or a moment that triggered this transition in your thinking?

“I think that came with time. When I was doing TV too, my first priority was just being there. I did a show that ran for 3.5 years and then I realised that now, I wanted to explore and do different kinds of stuff. Similarly, in films too, I just wanted to be there for some time. So, I did about 10-12 films and then I realised that now, it’s time to shift because I was getting typecast. I said no, there is so much more to this field and I can’t be doing the same thing all my life. That was the point when Baahubali came and I started doing films like Tanhaji and Laxmii. That was what I think was the turning point for me as I didn’t want to be typecast. And I am still trying and I will always keep trying.”

 

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Speaking of Baahubali, I don’t think I have ever seen a voice become a rage like yours did. The popularity of Sharad Kelkar as the voice of Prabhas in Baahubali and now in Adipurush as well, this is something very new…

“It was a new thing for anyone in the industry. We have great voices in our industry like Amitabh Bachchan sir, Kabir sir and when you get recognition for your voice, it’s a great thing.”

 

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The news of Sharad Kelkar voicing for Prabhas again in Adipurush also became such a huge thing…

“Honestly, this film Adipurush is really important for me and very close to my heart. Being a Marathi boy, it’s a privilege for me that I am getting to voice Prabhu Shri Ram and that too in such a big film. That is an asset for me. My daughter, when she will grow up and understand, she will be very proud of the fact that her father is the voice of Prabhu Shri Ram. Like she doesn’t understand Baahubali, she knows that I am the voice of it but she doesn’t understand the film per say, but with Prabhu Shri Ram, she will be very proud.”

 

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Have you met Prabhas to discuss your voice association with his face?

“I have met Prabhas twice, not much. He is a very sweet, shy guy. I saw somewhere people saying why don’t I ask Prabhas to dub for me for Har Har Mahadev in Telugu, and I was like yeah, you’re joking. I wish it could happen.”

 

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You said you are reuniting with Ajay Devgn again…

“I want to clarify that I am not in Bholaa, there is something wrong online. But last time Ajay sir and me spoke, he said he wanted to do something together but there’s a long process to it. So, it might take a year or two. But we will work together again. I am excited to work with him. He is a brilliant guy and I just love him.”

 

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Also Read: Sharad Kelkar starrer Har Har Mahadev makers choose 150 lucky fans to watch the movie