Sharad Kelkar recalls his journey as "the voice of Baahubali" as the upcoming 'Baahubali: Crown of Blood' animated series nears release

Sharad Kelkar, a well-known Hindi actor renowned for his compelling voice, shared his initial uncertainty about being chosen by filmmaker SS Rajamouli for the Hindi dub of the iconic 'Baahubali' series. Kelkar, who voiced the characters of Amarendra Baahubali and Mahendra Baahubali—originally portrayed by Rebel Star Prabhas in both 'Baahubali: The Beginning' and 'Baahubali: The Conclusion'—opened'up about his journey into the epic saga's dubbing team.
The opportunity arose while Kelkar was involved in the 2016 Telugu action-comedy 'Sardaar Gabbar Singh', starring Pawan Kalyan. A crew member recognized his vocals and recommended him to Rajamouli, suggesting that Kelkar's strong Hindi voice, honed in his native Gwalior, would be ideal for the role, as per a PTI report.

"I had no idea about 'Baahubali' but I had seen 'Magadheera' and 'Makkhi' (Rajamouli's previous films). As an actor, I wanted to meet the creator of this masterpiece. So, I gave my voice test, took the tape, and met him at the studio. The next day, he said, 'You're doing the dubbing for Baahubali', he recalled," said Kelkar.
This role not only significantly boosted Kelkar's career but also endeared him to a vast fan base, earning him the title "the voice of Baahubali" and, affectionately, "the voice of India." Reflecting on the profound impact of this role, Kelkar expressed how it marked a new peak in his career, bringing him widespread recognition.
Continuing his collaboration with Rajamouli, Kelkar is now set to lend his voice in the Hindi dub of the upcoming animated series 'Baahubali: Crown of Blood'. This series, a prequel to the blockbuster movies, is scheduled to stream on Disney Plus starting May 17th.

Sharing about the experience of dubbing this upcoming animated series, "It was tougher to understand what kind of visuals or scene it would have or how far the other character is from you. Or how loud or sharp you can be. At that point, the creator and director came. It was a different process. But it was fun as well," he said.