Shah Rukh Khan is stoked about dubbing for "The Lion King" with his "own Simba" Aryan, and this makes it even more special for the superstar.
Shah Rukh and Aryan will be lending their voices for King Mufasa and his son Simba, respectively, in the Hindi version of Disney's upcoming live-action film "The Lion King".
"Glad to be a part of this journey...a timeless film. Voicing it in Hindi with my own Simba," SRK tweeted on Monday. "The last time we did a film was around 15 years ago and it was 'Incredible' and this time around it is even more fun. Hope everyone enjoys it July 19 onwards," he added.
BIGGG NEWS... Shah Rukh Khan teams up with son Aryan to do voice over for Disney's #TheLionKing in HINDI... SRK will do voice over for the King of the Jungle, Lion Mufasa, while Aryan will do voice over for Mufasa’s son Simba... 19 July 2019 release. pic.twitter.com/lWJVK3Zoz5
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) June 17, 2019
Shah Rukh says his whole family loves "The Lion King". "It holds a very special place in our hearts. As a father, I can totally relate with Mufasa and the endearing relationship he shares with his son Simba," Shah Rukh said in a statement.
"The legacy of Lion King is timeless; and being a part of this iconic re-imagining with my son Aryan makes it extra special for me. We are most excited that AbRam is going to watch this," he said.
The announcement comes a day after Shah Rukh took to Twitter to share a photograph of him and his son sporting blue cricket jerseys with their backs towards the camera. The "Chennai Express" star's jersey read "Mufasa" and Aryan's read "Simba".
Directed by "The Jungle Book" fame director Jon Favreau, "The Lion King" is one of the most-anticipated films of recent times.
The original film, considered an animation masterpiece, was released on June 15, 1994. , It was not just widely lauded critically, but received commercial success as well.
Favreau has stayed true to the classic story of Simba and used pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring the iconic characters to the big screen in a whole new way.
"The Lion King" will be released in India on July 19 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
In 2004, Aryan, then seven-years-old, dubbed for Dash in The Incredibles - Shah Rukh Khan voiced Mr Incredible - and that's pretty much his only experience till date, barring a scene in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in which he appears as the toddler version of his dad's character. These credentials or lack of them are quite enough to convince Twitter that Aryan's casting in the lead role of a remake of a beloved classic is because of Bollywood's besetting sin - nepotism.
Indian people rejected dynastic politics but still is incapable to reject dynastic rule in bollywood.
— Aishik Sinha (@SinhaAishik) June 17, 2019
Hope good days prevail there. #TheLionKing
Shahrukh Khan just invented a new form nepotism #TheLionKing https://t.co/AUkkM7euF2
— Abhinav Shah (@now9S) June 17, 2019
So like nepotism, but now in Disney cartoons. #TheLionKing #Disney https://t.co/0Tm1SSNTyp
— desi girl💃🏽 (@prachisingh27) June 17, 2019
#TheLionKing or the king if nepotism
— meme-nator (@NatorMeme) June 17, 2019
#TheLionKing paise Mai kitni power Hoti hai ...
— GOKU (@abhishe62815218) June 17, 2019
Welcome to NEPOTISM club
When even Disney knows that Bharat mein #TheLionKing jaisi strong script bechne ke iye bhi nepotism ka sahara lena padega.
— Lakshya Mittal (@LakshyaMittal2) June 17, 2019
Yes, we deserve it.
Also, no problem that Aryan wants 2 do films, but handing him TLK on a platter to debut is what nepotism is all about. https://t.co/xeLiN8DOXH
Srk.. The Nepotism King#TheLionKing pic.twitter.com/2R5TYek08k
— Kunal (@Kunal25904355) June 17, 2019
Twitter has several alternate suggestions for the Hindi voice of Simba - Ranbir Kapoor is top choice. Also, sorry Shah Rukh Khan but the Internet seems to prefer Amitabh Bachchan for Mufasa. And could we get Rishi Kapoor as Pumbaa please?
However, this is The Lion King we're getting and Twitter also has some ideas on the customized wisdom this Mufasa will give his Simba:
Mufasa: bade bade shehromai esi choti choti baatein hoti rahtehai,
— Sajia Rahman (@rahman_sajia) June 17, 2019
Simba...
Simba: yeah, I gotcha
I'm waiting 🤣🤣#TheLionKing
Indian stars seem only too happy to dub for Hollywood blockbusters, from Ranveer Singh in Deadpool to Varun Dhawan in Captain America: Civil War. In 2016, Disney struck gold with an all-star voice cast for the Hindi version of The Jungle Book - Om Puri and Irrfan Khan voiced Bagheera and Baloo and Priyanka Chopra dubbed for Kaa.
The Lion King, out on July 19, is directed by Jon Favreau who also directed The Jungle Book. James Earl Jones is the only member of the original cast to return; Chiwetel Ejiofor takes over from Jeremy Irons as the dastardly Scar, Beyonce, Seth Rogen and John Oliver are Nala, Pumbaa and Zazu, and Black Panther alumni John Kani and Florence Kasumba appear as Rafiki and one of the hyenas.