The dubbing industry has seen significant growth in recent years, propelled by the trend of pan-India visual content and the globalisation of media. As filmmakers aim to reach broader audiences, quality dubbing has become a focal point to attract non-native speakers. Despite technological advancements in dubbing, disparities remain in terms of compensation and voice casting. A decade or so ago, dubbing was often seen as a fallback for those who couldn’t succeed in acting, according to voice actor Ganesh Divekar. However, the scenario has dramatically changed, with dubbing artists now becoming iconic figures in their own right.
Ganesh Divekar, renowned for voicing Bhallaladeva in Disney+ Hotstar’s animated series ‘Baahubali: Crown of Blood,’ reflects on the transformation of the dubbing industry. “Earlier, everyone wanted to be Amitabh Bachchan. Now the scenario has changed,” he says. Divekar elaborates on how dubbing has evolved into a respected craft: “The more you work at it, the better you get. The same applies to dubbing.”
Sanket Mhatre, who has voiced Baahubali in the Marathi version of ‘Baahubali: Crown of Blood,’ echoes Divekar’s sentiments. “Dubbing is a nascent craft in India. ‘Jurassic Park’ was the first film dubbed from English to Hindi, which isn’t that long ago. Comparing the first ‘Jurassic Park’ with the latest Jurassic movies shows how much dubbing has evolved in terms of technology, direction, engineering, mixing, writing, and natural performance.”
Mhatre continues, “Today, South Indian films dubbed in Hindi no longer carry the melodramatic, loud performances they once did. Writers and directors have adjusted their approaches to create more natural performances. Now, it feels like the original cast is voicing their lines in Hindi, making it seem like a Hindi film rather than a dubbed project.”
Highlighting the international reach of Indian dubbing talent, Mhatre notes, “We even dubbed Rajamouli Sir’s project ‘RRR’ in English for Netflix.
. People abroad watched the English language dub with Indian voice artists. Our work has reached an international level.”
However, the booming industry has also led to some challenges, particularly regarding budgeting and compensation. “There is a lot of choice for voices when casting for different characters today,” says Divekar, but he also points to unfair budgeting practices in the industry. “When celebrities dub for films, producers spare no expenses. However, experienced artists like myself or Sanket Mhatre don’t receive the same compensation that celebrities do.”
Divekar highlights an important issue: “Dubbing as an art has evolved, but budgets have gone down. There’s a plethora of artists available, but Sanket and I are not regularly heard because many productions can’t afford us. When celebrities are involved in dubbing, the price of the film goes up. But for professional dubbing artists, we are supposed to adjust according to the budget of the film.”
Divekar adds that the discrepancy becomes evident when casting celebrities versus trained voice artists. “When a production house needs a celebrity to voice a character, the budget for the film skyrockets. But when it requires professional dubbing artists, we have to work within restrictive financial parameters.”
This sentiment is echoed on social media platforms like Instagram, where Divekar shares his professional journey and insights. The industry’s evolution is evident, but the road to equitable compensation remains an ongoing challenge.
The conversation about fair compensation and better recognition for dubbing artists is imperative as the industry grows. As more content gets dubbed to reach varied audiences, it’s crucial to acknowledge the talent behind these voices and ensure their efforts are valued appropriately.
The dubbing industry continues to grow, breaking geographical and linguistic barriers, and as it does, the voices behind these projects push for a balance between quality and fairness, aiming for a future where their craft is as well-compensated as it is respected.
