Sharad Kelkar, a prominent Bollywood actor known for his powerful voice and versatile acting, has recently lent his voice to the iconic Marvel character, Wolverine, in the Hindi adaptation of Marvel's Wastelanders, an Audible Original series. This marks a new milestone in Kelkar's career, adding to his impressive list of voice-acting credits, including the voice of Ravan in "The Legend of Hanuman" and Prabhas in the Hindi-dubbed version of the "Baahubali" series.
Kelkar's connection with Wolverine goes beyond just a professional assignment. He revealed that he deeply connects with the character due to his childhood stammer, mirroring Wolverine's reliance on action over words. As a child, Kelkar struggled with stammering, leading him to express himself through actions, a trait he shares with the raw and physical Wolverine. This personal connection allowed him to shape the character in his own way, especially considering the story is set 30 years in the future, requiring a new version of Wolverine with evolved physicality, voice, strengths, and weaknesses.
Marvel's Wastelanders is set in a dystopian future where supervillains have triumphed, and the remaining heroes are a faded memory. This Hindi adaptation of the popular English series features a stellar cast, including Saif Ali Khan as Star-Lord, Kareena Kapoor as Black Widow, and Jaideep Ahlawat as Hawkeye. The series follows the journey of these battered and broken superheroes as they unite for one last stand against the forces of evil. Kelkar emphasized that this series is different from the MCU, presenting a unique story of powerful superheroes coming together after an apocalyptic event.
Kelkar believes that voice acting is a fascinating medium that expands an actor's imagination and enhances their ability to create a character without visual references. He approaches voice acting as more than just saying lines; he fully embodies the character, engaging physically during recording sessions to bring the character to life. He also spoke about the growing popularity of audio series and podcasts in India, attributing it to the convenience it offers for multitasking lifestyles.
The final season of "Marvel's Wastelanders" promises to be an epic team-up, with superheroes joining forces against supervillains. Kareena Kapoor expressed her excitement about reprising her role as Black Widow, a character she resonates with due to her fierceness and intelligence. Saif Ali Khan highlighted the breathtaking soundscapes and explosive confrontations in the series, while Jaideep Ahlawat called the final chapter epic, filled with high-octane action, emotion, and thrill. The series also stars Ashish Vidyarthi as Doctor Doom and Yashaswini Dayama as Valeria Richards.
