Shreyas Talpade, the versatile actor known for his impactful roles in both Marathi and Hindi cinema, has captivated audiences with his powerful voice in Pushpa 2. In an exclusive conversation with The Free Press Journal, Talpade opens up about the challenges and techniques behind bringing the iconic character’s fiery voice to life. He reveals how his vocal exercises and understanding of the character’s emotional journey helped him capture Pushpa’s intensity. Excerpts:
Q: How did you prepare yourself for Pushpa 2 after the success of the first movie?
A: My preparation starts a few days before I begin dubbing, focusing on sleeping and waking up on time, along with vocal exercises. After that, I watch the film, understand the character’s arc, and empathise with the emotions. I try to understand what the actor must have felt during each scene and aim to feel the same while performing.
Q: What specific techniques did you use to capture the ruggedness of Pushpa’s voice?
A: In Pushpa Part 2, I understood the character’s journey. In Part 1, Pushpa’s rise came with vulnerability, but in Part 2, he asserts his authority. His body language and voice had to reflect that power while maintaining an element of vulnerability. We use voice exercises from theatre, focusing on voice projection, which helps a lot during dubbing.
Q: What was the most rewarding part of working on Pushpa 2?
A: The overwhelming love from the audience is the greatest reward. Knowing that the audience connects with my work and expresses their appreciation is priceless. We do everything for them, and when they feel that satisfaction, so do we. I’m grateful and humbled that my voice has brought happiness to so many people.
Q: How did you feel when you first heard the audience’s reaction to your dubbing?
A: The love and messages after the first part were overwhelming. As an actor, you put in the effort, but you never know how it will connect with the audience. When it does, especially in such a beautiful way, it reaffirms why I’m in this profession.
Q: Do you think your voice brought a unique element to Pushpa’s character?
A: I’m not sure if it brought something unique, but our goal was to ensure we justified the actor’s performance. We tried different voice variations and went with the one that felt best. It’s essential to understand the character’s body language, attitude, and personality traits, which helps create the right voice. For example, my voice for Timon and Mufasa in The Lion King is very different from Pushpa’s.
Q: What was the most exciting moment for you during the dubbing process?
A: The excitement comes from the challenges your work presents. In Pushpa Part 2, Pushpa’s frequent paan-chewing and drinking moments were difficult to replicate with the same intensity. Matching the actor’s emotions and attitude while dubbing these moments was quite challenging, and that made it exciting.
Q: How do you keep your voice fresh during long dubbing sessions?
A: We’ve been doing voice exercises since our theatre days, one of which is to speak from the stomach. Once you master this, you don’t strain your vocal cords, and it helps keep your voice fresh during long sessions.
Q: Would you want to voice other iconic characters in future projects?
A: I’d love to voice more characters, whether they’re already iconic or become iconic. It’s like acting—you don’t stop at one film or sequel; you want to explore new roles. I’ve been fortunate that the four films I’ve dubbed for—The Lion King and Pushpa—have worked well at the box office.
Q: How do you balance staying true to the character and adding your own style to the voiceover?
A: Voicing is like acting. The difference is that you’re dubbing in a room rather than performing on set. But the core is the same—you have to feel the character’s emotions and perform. You can’t be yourself while dubbing; you have to become the character. It’s about immersing yourself in the scene and then translating that into the voice.
Q: Apart from dubbing, are there any other upcoming projects you’re excited about?
A: I’m excited about Emergency, releasing on the 17th of January, and Housefull 5, Baaghi 4, and Welcome to the Jungle. These are the films I’m working on, and I’m really looking forward to all of them.
Q: Will your upcoming films allow you to explore a different genre or character compared to your past roles?
A: Every film I’m doing is completely different from the other. Housefull 5 is different, Welcome to the Jungle is different, Baaghi is different, and Emergency is the most different. I’m excited to explore these diverse roles.
