Exclusive: Shreyas Talpade returns as Allu Arjun's voice in Pushpa 2: First part there were no expectations; feeling butterflies in my stomach, a little nervous

Bollywood actor Shreyas Talpade became the voice of Allu Arjun's National Award-winning character Pushpa. Shreyas, who is known for his impressive comic timing, is returning to the silver screens yet again as the voice of Allu Arjun in Pushpa 2: The Rule.

Money Control got in touch with the actor to ask him about his experience of dubbing for the character yet again. In an exclusive interview with Money Control, Shreyas spoke at length about how he feels about dubbing for the character, which has now become a phenomenon.

We asked him if he was nervous, and how was it this time? To this, Shreyas replied, "Pushpa 2 is definitely bigger and better than Pushpa 1. In terms of anything being different, his attitude is better; his confidence is all new high considering his rise in Part 1; now it's his rule. So the action is fantastical. But at the same time there is certain vulnerability that is still intact with the character; that is what I really like about Pushpa."

While talking about dubbing for Pushpa 2, Shreyas said he did feel the pressure as the movie has now achieved cult status and 'expectations are sky high.'

"After the huge success of Pushpa 1, when there is a sequel coming, there is a little bit of pressure because expectations are sky high. First part, there were technically no expectations. Yes, I mean you feel a little butterflies in your stomach; you feel a little nervous. When you are dubbing, you try to take extra care and precaution about every little thing, but then you just follow the simple rule that you go with your gut and make sure that you, as an actor, are doing 100 percent justice to your part. That's all you can do, and after that, you leave it to the audience to decide what they feel about it," he said.

Shreyas, who has not dubbed for many movies in the past, said that the challenge that he felt while dubbing for Pushpa 2 was to maintain the 'integrity and solidarity of the character'.

"The challenge is to actually maintain the integrity and solidarity of the character. Sometimes with success, you tend to feel a little more complacent and overconfident. Ki ye toh maine kiya hai, ho jayega. I think that is the wrong attitude. You have to take this film as a new film and make sure that you do complete justice. You have to completely forget the fact that Part 1 was hugely successful and treat this as a new film with a fresh character, then try and do utmost justice," he added.

Shreyas said that this time while dubbing for Allu Arjun's character Pushpa, he had to bring more confidence and swag than was there in the first part, as this time it is the rule and not the rise.

"Like I mentioned before, Pushpa 2 is bigger and better than the first part. He's there's more swag. There is more confidence in his body language, and that had to reflect in his voice as well. So, we just tried our best to reflect that. The body language that I see on screen is something that I try to imitate or execute through my voice. So, while Pushpa was a little more vulnerable and, on the rise in Part 1, this time he is completely confident, has a little more swag, and walks in a way where he knows that he owns the place. So, I think that had to reflect in my voice as well, and that's how I have tried there. I'm glad people are liking it," he added.

When we asked him if he had met with Allu Arjun, he replied to our surprise that he hadn't met the National Award-winning actor yet. "It might sound surprising, but I haven't met Allu Arjun yet. So I'm looking forward to meeting him because I really like him as an actor. I admire him, especially after Pushpa; whatever he's done, the way he's carried the entire part is just phenomenal. So, I like him, and I would like to meet him," Shreyas said, saying he wants to meet Allu Arjun soon.

Not many know that Shreyas has only dubbed for two films in his entire career, and Pushpa became a rage. He will be the voice of Timon in the Hindi version of Mufasa, the Lion King.

"As far as selecting roles for dubbing is concerned, I have only dubbed for 2 films. 1 is, or rather 2 characters. 1 is Timon. I dubbed for him earlier in the Lion King and now in Mufasa, the Lion King. And I've dubbed for Pushpa 1 and Pushpa 2. So these are the only things that I've really dubbed for," he said.

Talking about Emergency, Shreyas said despite the delay in film's release they are excited for its promotions.

"Going with the reaction that I got, on the announcement of the release date for Emergency, I think the enthusiasm will be 100% intact, and it is still intact. So obviously, we will start our promotions, in a few days now. But people are in general looking forward to Emergency. They want to see the film. They want to know what the story is. They want to see the performances. So, yes, I think the enthusiasm is there. We just need to make people aware of the, release date and tell them that, 17 January is the date when Emergency releases, all across the world in theatres," he said.

Shreyas was all praise for National Award winning actress Kangana Ranaut, who has also directed Emergency.

He said: "We all know how brilliant an actress Kangana Ranaut is. And, of course, when you see Emergency, you will once again applaud the fact that she is just too good in her craft. But I was very pleasantly surprised when I got to see the director in her and the producer as well. So, to produce a film of this scale, to act in it, and to direct the entire thing is a it's a huge challenge. And, the lady has done it with, great finesse. When you see the film, you'll realise that it is truly an international production executed in the best manner possible. So, I'm very happy, honoured and proud of the fact that I'm a part of Emergency and got to work under Kangana Ranaut as a director."

Shreyas is currently working on Housefull 5 and Welcome To The Jungle, which are multi starrers.

"So apart from dubbing for Pushpa 2 and Mufasa, the Lion King, I'm looking forward to Emergency releasing. Then there's Houseful 5 that I'm shooting for. There is Welcome to the Jungle that I'm shooting for. So yeah, I'm taking it easy. I'm not really in a rush to do anything or to prove a point or anything like that. So whatever I can do, I'm trying to do that," he told us.

Shreyas was last seen in Kartam Bhuktam and is soon going to begin with the promotions of Kangana Ranaut-directed Emergency, which is going to release on January 17.