From the Marvel universe to the hearts of Telugu audiences, Krishna Kaushik’s voice acting has brought Gambit to life in a whole new way. In a candid conversation with The Pioneer, Kaushik opens up about his experience of dubbing for the iconic character, the challenges he faced and the thrill of making Gambit a part of Telugu pop culture.
Behind every iconic superhero on screen lies an unsung hero, one who lends a voice that brings the character to life in a completely new language. For Telugu audiences, Krishna Kaushik, an accomplished actor and dubbing artist, did just that by stepping into the shoes or rather, the voice of Gambit, the suave and enigmatic mutant in the Marvel universe.
In a candid conversation with The Pioneer, he shares his journey of preparing for the role, his creative twists, and the challenges of breathing life into a global character for a regional audience.
“When I first got the call to audition for Gambit, I didn’t even get to see what he looked like,” he begins, his tone infused with excitement. “I had to visualise everything, how he moves, how he talks, his attitude. That was my starting point.” A seasoned dubbing artist and actor, he relied on his experience and imagination to craft Gambit’s Telugu avatar. “I approached it like I would any character I play on screen—by asking myself how this person would behave if they spoke Telugu. From his subtle humor to his confident charm, I wanted the audience to feel like Gambit belonged to them, even though he’s from a different universe.”
His creative process didn’t stop at simply translating Gambit’s lines.“The vocabulary and grammar of English and Telugu are so different that you have to improvise to make the emotions land,” he explains. One of his most unique additions? A playful twist on pronunciation. “We decided to replace the ‘Pa’ sounds in Telugu with ‘Fa.’ So, ‘Papa’ became ‘Fafa.’ It gave the character a humorous edge that resonated with the audience.”
This simple tweak not only made Gambit more relatable but also added a fresh layer of wit to the character. “It’s these little things that make a difference. They bring the character closer to the audience’s hearts,” he adds with a smile.
Gambit, known for his quiet confidence and magnetic charm, posed a unique challenge for him. “He’s not loud or overly expressive. His power lies in his subtlety—his sharp wit, his mysterious aura. It reminded me of Shah Rukh Khan’s style of emoting with his eyes and minimal expressions,” he shares.
Since Marvel’s dubbing process only allowed him to see limited visuals—mostly just lip movements, he had to imagine Gambit’s body language and emotional depth. “It’s tough when you don’t see the full picture, but as an actor, I’ve learned to adapt. I visualized Gambit’s every move, his cards, his smirks, and tried to reflect that in my tone.”
In the Deadpool universe, humour and intensity often coexist, and he found himself navigating this fine line while dubbing Gambit’s dialogues. “I had to adjust my pitch and tone to match the other characters like Deadpool and Wolverine. While Deadpool is loud and irreverent, Gambit is more composed and calculated,” he notes. One of his favorite scenes? The introduction. “When Gambit says his real name, it’s a tongue-twister. Deadpool reacts with his classic sarcasm, asking him to repeat it. Translating that moment into Telugu was a riot because we added layers of humor that clicked with our audience.” Another memorable moment involved a punchline about Gambit’s parents. “In English, it’s bold and edgy, but in Telugu, we made it funny and colloquial. It’s these moments that connect with the audience.”
When asked if being a Marvel fan influenced his performance, he beams. “Of course, I’m a Marvel fan! But I made sure my admiration for the universe didn’t overshadow the task at hand. I approached Gambit as a character, not just a superhero.” And if given the chance to voice another Marvel hero? “Wolverine,” he says without hesitation. “I love his raw intensity and Hugh Jackman’s iconic portrayal.”
For him, dubbing Gambit was more than just a professional milestone—it was a testament to how cinema is evolving. “Post-COVID, there’s no North or South in Indian cinema. It’s all Indian cinema. With OTT platforms, Telugu audiences are watching Malayalam, Bengali and Tamil films, just as others are discovering Telugu content. Bringing Marvel movies into regional languages is part of that larger movement,” he says proudly.
His advice for aspiring voice artists? “Stick to the character. Let the brief guide you and don’t let other voices or performances overshadow yours. Even if your character is quiet, like Gambit, find ways to make them memorable. Sometimes, the pauses and subtle nuances speak louder than words.”
His work as Gambit hasn’t gone unnoticed. Fans have flooded him with messages, praising how he made the character uniquely Telugu while staying true to Gambit’s essence. “Some even joked that they saw him in Gambit, not the original actor,” he laughs.
As for the future? He hopes to continue exploring uncharted territories in voice acting, perhaps even making his way to Hollywood one day. “For now, I’m just grateful to be part of something as iconic as Marvel. It’s a dream come true.”
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