Sharad Kelkar has provided the Hindi voice-over for the character of Ravana (played by Yash) in the film ‘Ramayana’, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. In a recent interview, Sharad Kelkar discussed the challenges he faced while dubbing for this role, as well as his prior conversations with the director and Yash. He also highlighted specific sequences in the film that left a deep impression on him.
A long-standing desire to work with Nitesh
In a conversation with Variety, Sharad Kelkar revealed that director Nitesh Tiwari and the film’s core team reached out to him for the Hindi dubbing assignment. Kelkar shared that he had long aspired to work with Nitesh Tiwari, and this mythological project finally provided him with that opportunity. He also recounted his experience of meeting Nitesh Tiwari at Ravi Dubey’s residence.
A meeting at Ravi Dubey’s home
Sharad Kelkar shared, “Nitesh Tiwari and the core team decided that I should handle the Hindi dubbing for Yash’s character. Niraj Sanghai from Prime Focus is a good friend of mine. In fact, when I met Nitesh sir at Ravi Dubey’s house last year, I had expressed my desire to work with him.” Kelkar noted that Nitesh Tiwari was busy with the filming of ‘Ramayana’ at the time, but he has now finally secured the chance to collaborate with him. Kelkar also mentioned how Nitesh Tiwari has placed significant emphasis on Ravana’s backstory within the film.
Greater focus on Ravana’s backstory
Sharad Kelkar pointed out that while people are well-versed in the childhood of Lord Rama, most are unaware of the story of Ravana’s life before he became the ruler of Lanka. Furthermore, Nitesh Tiwari has depicted Ayodhya in a truly grand manner. Sharad Kelkar shared that dubbing for the character of Yash was no easy task for him. He noted that despite Hindi not being his primary language, Yash delivered an exceptional performance. At several points during the dubbing process, he found himself wondering how Yash could have possibly enacted those scenes. He remained in constant touch with Yash, seeking his input throughout. Sharad also spoke about his favorite sequences.
Sharad’s favorite scenes from the Ramayana
Sharad Kelkar—who has previously dubbed for Prabhas in Hindi for films like Baahubali, Salaar, and Adipurush—remarked, “This was one of the most exhausting dubbing experiences I’ve ever had. I can only imagine the immense hard work Yash must have put into this role. I believe this is the most challenging role of his career, and he has done a fantastic job.” Sharad added, “There are a few scenes that I particularly love—the one featuring the ten-headed form, the sequence with Vidyutjihva, and the opening scene where Ravana seeks a boon from Brahma.”