Actor and dubbing artist Shreyas Talpade, who has captivated the Telugu audience with his Hindi dubbing in Pushpa, gets candid with The Pioneer about his upcoming multilingual film, Love You Shankar.
K. Ramya Sree
Actor and dubbing artist Shreyas Talpade has garnered significant attention from Telugu audiences following his Hindi dubbing for Allu Arjun’s character in Pushpa. Now, he is set to captivate audiences once again with his upcoming film, Love You Shankar, a composite animated film scheduled for a grand theatrical release on April 19 in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada languages. Set against the backdrop of the sacred city of Banaras, Love You Shankar promises to enchant viewers with its heartwarming tale of faith, friendship, and adventure. The film revolves around the endearing bond between an eight-year-old boy and Lord Shiva, offering a wholesome family entertainment experience.
As the release date draws near, Shreyas Talpade shared his excitement about the film’s multi-language release. “Today, language is not a barrier for the audience if they like a particular story,” expressed Shreyas, adding, “I will be extremely happy if it works in all those languages that we are releasing it in, especially Telugu, considering I dubbed for a Telugu film that made major business in Hindi. So I would really like it if the Telugu fans also gave the same kind of love to our film, Love You Shankar, when it was released there.”
In this exclusive interview, Shreyas provided insights into his character in the film, portraying a devoted pandit whose faith is put to the test by unfortunate events. He praised director Rajiv Ruia’s narrative sensibilities and expressed gratitude for being part of the project: “My role is that of a man who works as a pandit in a temple and has a sweet family. There are certain events that happen to him that are very unfortunate. And after that, how his faith is restored, how his belief in the deity and Lord Shiva basically come to his rescue, is what my character is all about in this film.”
He further continued, “I heard the story, and I was pretty impressed with the way the director was dealing with the narrative, especially. These days, there are not too many children’s films coming, and Rajiv has successfully done quite a few in the past, including Ganesha. His sensibilities and his psyche pretty much understand the psyche of kids. So I went with my gut feeling, and I said, Okay, let me give it a shot and see how it works out. I am glad that I said yes because I completely enjoyed the experience of working in this one.”
Regarding the film’s mythological theme, Shreyas clarified that Love You Shankar is a completely fictional story, blending elements of classic Hindi masala films with modern children’s adventure tales. He expressed hope that the fusion would resonate with audiences upon release.
Reflecting on his experiences during filming, Shreyas fondly recalled shooting at the serene ghats of the river Ganga as one of the most memorable moments. He emphasised the film’s underlying themes of faith and belief, which he believes resonate deeply with viewers. He shared, “The moment we stepped into Ganga, it was extremely calm and serene, and I think there are very few locations that have that kind of vibe and atmosphere. So that is something that I will never forget. We would sit for hours in front of the balcony and keep looking at the river flowing calmly and beautifully. The biggest takeaway from films like these is faith and our belief in whatever we believe in, whether it is God, nature, superpowers, or super energy. I think it is films like these and stories like these that just reinforce our faith and belief system in that power. So when you are part of a film that deals with your spirituality or your culture, I think it’s very satisfying, and there are a lot of takeaways that you take from stories like these.”
Shreyas further expressed eagerness to explore roles in various languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and others. He hinted at an upcoming collaboration with a South Indian production house, showcasing his commitment to diverse linguistic and cultural experiences. They are releasing the film in Hindi, but it is also going to be released in multiple languages.
When asked about his involvement in Pushpa 2, Shreyas revealed that dubbing has not yet begun, as the film is still in the shooting process. He expressed anticipation for the project and affirmed his readiness to commence work once production concludes.
In preparation for his role in Love You Shankar, Shreyas credited director Rajiv Ruia for simplifying his approach. He recounted immersing himself in the ambiance of Banaras, observing local pundits to enhance his portrayal of the character: “My director, Rajiv Ruia, made my job a lot easier here. When I went there, he asked me to just take a stroll around the ghats of the Ganga and said, You will see a lot of pundits over there, either performing some pujas or, you know, maybe chanting some mantras and things like that. And you can go around and have a look. I just went around at a local observing, whatever I could, whatever they do, and I just, and of course then there is a certain character sketch that the director has in mind, so I combined the two and tried to perform it to the best of my ability.”
In conclusion, Shreyas encouraged audiences to embrace Love You Shankar as a beautiful adventure film suitable for the entire family. He emphasised the film’s educational value, providing insights into faith and beliefs while offering a delightful cinematic experience.
