Sharad Kelkar : I can’t understand my voice as I’m hearing it everyday 24/7!

Sharad Kelkar has a been part of the entertainment industry since 2004 and has been doing notable work too on small as well as big screen. But Sharad received immense popularity when #Bahubali was released in 2017. Bahubali was the biggest hit in Hindi too in the longest time in the history of Bollywood. Primarily it was made in Telugu by #SSRajamouli which starred #Prabhas. Even Prabhas, who was a superstar down South, became a Pan India star and got immense popularity throughout India. Also alongside Prabhas, #SharadKelkar too became a household name overnight because of Prabhas and his role in Bahubali. So how Sharad Kelkar gained so much popularity? He was the Hindi voice of Prabhas. His voice gave him instant pan-India popularity. In fact he made Bahubali famous across nation. Sharad Kelkar voice overs majority of #Hollywood films and is a noted actor in #Hindi, #Marathi, #Telugu & #Tamil films.

Sharad Kelkar is a product of television and debuted on #Doordarshan with #Aakrosh. Good looks and good physique and in addition to a wonderful voice landed him multiple roles on small screen. He met his beautiful wife Keerti Gaikwad, an actress too, during acting in one of the serials and both fell in love and got married in 2005. In 2006 they both participated in a dance reality show ‘Nach Baliye’. Sharad was always a sought after actor on television but he was keen on featuring on big screen. He has been part of many noted Marathi and Hindi films. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gooliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela’ brought him in the limelight because the film was a superhit. His grey shade role was well received by the audiences. Then came a Marathi film Lai Bhaari, which was Riteish Deshmukh’s Marathi debut film, wherein he played an antagonist and won accolades for his portrayal. Sharad has been part of many films including Hero, Mohenjo Daro, Rocky Handsome, Irada, Bhoomi, Rakshas, Youngraad, Madhuri, Housefull 4, Bhuj etc to name a few.

Sharad Kelkar played Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Ajay Devgn starrer “Tanhaji” which was hailed by everyone. Interestingly enough Sharad played Shivaji Maharaj’s trusted soldier Baji Prabhu Deshpande in Har Har Mahadev, which too was lauded by everyone. Then his transgender avatar in Laxmii, starring Akshay Kumar, was talk of the town as he played it with utmost authenticity. His recent releases has been Code Name Tiranga, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, Chatrapathi. Our Sr Editor Keerti Kadam interacted with Sharad Kelkar and discussed many topics.

These days quite a few films are released on OTT. Your ‘Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga’ too was released digitally. What is your opinion?
These days makers are bringing interesting stories. OTT is a place where film makers can express themselves the way they want to. Also they can make movies without having the box office pressure. Of course, you ought to make a good movie. My Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga was released directly on OTT because it was a commissioned film. It was made for the OTT platform by Netflix. The interesting part is that this movie was declared a big hit and I am happy that OTT releases too are taken seriously by the audiences and the film industry people. CNKB has an interesting plot and where a common viewer’s guess ends, the writer and directors’ verity starts.

The plot is not run of the mill. It has been written well and Amar Kaushik has directed it beautifully. The screenplay is pristine. When I got a narration I was imagining what will happen next. But everything happening later was beyond my imagination. As a character also I was trying to find out who he was or what was he doing in that chaos. I played an interesting character in CNKB and on the whole the film has thrills, chills and entertains heavily. And it’s not a plain thriller, it has heist, it has hijack, so the plot gets interesting as the minutes go by. The sequences in the plane look authentic and the viewers got the realistic feeling. For any actor or a viewer who’s a thriller lover it’s a very intriguing film.

You have been part of different genres. Do you do it consciously?
I’ll say, I am lucky that I get the opportunity to play diversifying characters. I am thankful to my producers and directors for taking risks in investing in me. About changing genres, I have been doing it for the last 18 years. I feel that if I’ll not be able to surprise myself then how will I surprise my audience? The viewers must get surprised with my work. So in a way consciously I try to do different stuff and am fortunate enough for getting that opportunity.

How do you lock your scripts? What’s your preparation process?
Whenever a film is offered to me and if my heart says yes, then I do it. See, it’s important to convince yourself about the character you are playing. If you do not relate to it or don’t believe in it, then there’s no point in playing it. I take my parts seriously and try to project the character in the film. After all these years, one gets an idea about the scripts during the narration.

First and foremost the script is important. Secondly I see what my character is doing in the script, whether it is helping narration move forward etc. Next is the director. I interact with the director to understand about the nuances of the character. Then I think of what I can bring to the table to make this character more interesting. If the director seems rigid, not giving freedom to the actors to develop their characters, then it’s a risky proposition. The producer and the banner also play an important part in decision making. And last but not the least, the pay check. Money too is an important aspect of signing a film.

How much important the director is for you?
He is very important. Off late sometimes I go wrong with my judgement. But I go with my gut feeling about a person. 99% of the times I’ve been right. 1 or 2 cases were unpleasant but that’s fine. Director is the person who has the complete vision in his mind. We actors do our roles but with discussion an actor can bring novelty to the character.

How do you deal with success and failure?
When a particular film doesn’t do well, I do feel bad about it. But I am a very honest guy, I realise what is the problem in the film and you get to know that in this particular way maybe the film is not good or didn’t pan out the way we thought it will. I don’t get into problems nor blame it on anyone by saying he or she is responsible. No worries, it wasn’t the time so the film didn’t do well. Every film is born with it’s fate. I accept it and move on.

On switching roles do you fear whether you’ll get appreciated or not? How do you differentiate the choices of your films?
I don’t fear that. My only fear is, will I like and accept myself in that role? That matters to me. Conviction is very very important for me. I do two different films in one passing day. One positive character and another negative. If I start thinking ‘Mujhe Sab Kuch Aata Hai’ then I won’t be able to work further and that will stunt my progress.

Acting remains the same at the end of the day whether it’s for theatrical release or on OTT. I’ll do to the best to my capacity. I can never say that, if the film is for theatre, then i’ll act this way or if it’s OTT then in a different way. Acting is acting, whatever the medium be. For me each project is important and I do it with utmost sincerity.

After playing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj what difference did you find in your career graph or people approaching you?
It has changed a lot. I run away from typecasting as I said earlier because I was not getting any opportunity before Tanhaji. Then again, if you don’t get opportunities how will you showcase your talent? Or for that matter what capacity you have in terms of acting? So, after I played Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Tanhaji, things have changed positively. Now makers call me for different kind of roles and that’s what any actor wants to be called, a versatile actor.

You have a rich baritone voice. Has your voice become hindrance for your characters?
Yes, it has. Absolutely it was a hindrance in certain cases. Sometimes it’s an advantage sometimes it’s a disadvantage for certain characters. In few characters I try to portray in a very simpler manner but because of maybe my structure or voice it looks very powerful. Then I change it accordingly or if I have to do a certain kind of role, I’m very careful of how to use my voice. Frankly most of the time my voice has been advantageous.

There is a comparison between your voice and Amit Ji’s voice…..
(Laughs) They are not comparing his voice, his voice is much much better. Big B’s voice is way superior. There is no comparison. But yes, people are not comparing, they are liking my voice equally to Mr. Bachchan. I read that or heard somewhere on youtube that after Mr. Bachchan’s voice there is one voice they spoke about is, my voice. Again I can’t understand my voice as I’m hearing it everyday 24/7.

Are you working on your voice?
Lol. I do not do anything. It’s natural and I let it remain natural. I eat everything. Khatta, Mitha sab kuch khata hun. So the answer is No. I do not do anything for my voice. But yes, I am asked and forced to work on my physique. I am the most lazy human on this planet earth. I just want to eat and sleep.

You wanted to be in army? How much engrossed are you into fitness?
I wished to go to the Armed Forces but due to me being super lethargic it didn’t happen. Then my attitude became let’s just sit back and chill in life, why to go there. I was a gym instructor. I have spent so much time in Gyms that now I do not even want to look at a Gym, forget working out there. But nowadays I try and go to the gym. I’m little cautious about my sleep and food intake though. Now, food is better but sleep is little deprived. I have been doing back to back projects and that’s why I am sleep deprived.

What is your preparation point while playing a historical character?
Historical characters are difficult to play. You cannot err there because so much information is available in the public domain. One needs to be sensitive and disciplined while playing any historical character. You can’t take it lightly because there is a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. To be serious about the character which you’re playing and preparing for, you need to look like the character, sound like him, give the best portrayal which you want to see.