Rajesh Khattar, widely recognized for his roles in Bollywood and as a brilliant dubbing artist, recently shared a lesser-known aspect of his journey in the industry. With over 400 dubbing projects under his belt also including animated films and series, Khattar opened up about the struggles faced by dubbing artists in gaining recognition and fair pay. In the recent candid conversation, Rajesh Khattar acknowledges Ram Gopal Varma for being the first filmmaker to credit him as a dubbing artist for the films Phoonk (2008) and Phoonk 2 (2010).
In a recent interview with Lehren Retro, Khattar reflected on how dubbing artists are often overlooked despite their significant contribution to films. While musicians and lyricists have eventually received their due credit and compensation after their years of struggles to earn it, dubbing artists are still fighting for fair pay. Highlighting the success of dubbed films from international markets, South Indian cinema and other regional industries, Khattar questioned why dubbing artists remain undervalued.
He also expressed his frustration saying, “Pehle 10-12 saal jo the, ekdum ghumnami wale the dubbing artist ke kisiko pata nahi rehta tha” (The first 10-12 years were completely anonymous for dubbing artists, no one knew whose voice it was). He added that even lead actors were reluctant to admit their voices were dubbed.
Khattar shared how his journey took a positive turn when Ram Gopal Varma credited him for dubbing Kannada actor Sudeep’s voice in Phoonk and Phoonk 2. Recalling this special moment Rajesh Khattar acknowledges Ram Gopal Varma saying, “Mujhe yaad hai pehli dafaa, jo hua… Ram Gopal Varma ne title mein mera naam dala” (I remember the first time it happened… Ram Gopal Varma mentioned my name in the credits). This acknowledgment was a milestone in his career, marking the first time in a decade that his work as a dubbing artist was officially recognized in a film’s credits.
For more such anecdotes and thought-provoking insights shared by Rajesh Khattar watch the full interview below:
Apart from his on-screen roles, Rajesh Khattar is known for dubbing the voices of iconic Hollywood actors like Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr. and more. His ability to bring characters to life through his voice has made him a legend in the industry.
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