In a career spanning almost 40 years, Ashish Vidyarthi has played several memorable villains, whether it be in Drohkaal, Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi, Ziddi, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai or Bicchu. Now, the latest villainous feather he has added to his cap playing Dr Doom in Marvel’s Wastelanders, a Hindi Audible original series. Vidyarthi plays the character who first appeared in The Fantastic Four comic in 1962, three years before Vidyarthi’s birth.
He found voicing the character very fulfilling and told us about the experience, the rise of audio series in India and more. Interestingly, in the upcoming Hollywood movie, the character shall be played by Robert Downey Jr.
Ashish Vidyarthi On Playing Dr Doom, The Marvel Universe, Bond Villains And More |
Q. Are you a Marvel fan?
A. I had watched the Marvel stuff and read the comics, but I wasn’t aware of the ‘universe.’ So once they narrated it to me, then I started checking up on it. But what actually sealed the deal for me wasn’t the universe, but the role, the arc of this character. It was very exciting.
Q. How do you prepare for the role of Dr Doom?
A. Once you get the script, then you have a few questions, post which you work towards making the character believable, for which I did a lot of improvisation on the set. But the true magic which was created was via the background music and how the soundscape changes, detailing the story.
Q. Having played multiple strong villains over the years, wanted to know, are you a fan of the James Bond villains?
A. I’ve always loved Bond films, especially Sean Connery. But to me the Bond villains were very caricaturish, so i didn’t find hm that dangerous. But the suaveness of Bond is something you always noticed.
Q. What do you have to say with the rise of audio series in India in Indian market?
A. People are now getting to listen to audio while doing other things. People are listening to it while jogging, exercising or working. I like the fact that you can be multitasking while enjoying an audio series.
