Our Hindi is becoming worse by the day: Juhi Chawla

MUMBAI - Juhi Chawla says Sita is not a talkative character in the forthcoming 3-D animated film “Ramayana - The Epic”, but the actress at times had to do take after take to give the voiceover. With Hindi-speaking skills becoming worse by the day, she found it quite a challenge, says Chawla.

“Even though this film is an animation film, I was privileged to give the voiceover for such a beautiful character. It didn’t take me more than two minutes to say yes. Only thing I was concerned about was it should be a quality film - and it has really turned out to be one,” Juhi told IANS in an interview.

“Our Hindi is becoming worse every day, and here is ‘Ramayana’ where proper and pure Hindi is used, so it took a little time getting used to that. In terms of dialogues, Sita didn’t have a lot to talk about. She is not very talkative as a character. But there were times when I have taken take after take!” she added.

The film will be released Friday.

“It’s not like Sita fought wars, but she was a picture of beauty, dignity, patience, love and endurance. She is quiet strength. She is not aggressive and has many beautiful qualities in her,” she added.

Sita, the wife of Ayodhya prince Lord Rama, is one of the principal characters in the Indian epic Ramayana.

Even though Juhi has done many films like “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak”, “Bol Radha Bol”, “Darr”, “Yes Boss”, “Ishq” and “Jhankaar Beats”, she found the experience interesting and challenging.

“When you act in a film and you dub for it, the thing is you have already enacted that scene and now the whole challenge is to try and match it again.

“Here it was quite the other way around where I had no picture and I was explained the scene and situation. Standing at a mike, in a small cubicle, you should be able to imagine it from your heart. So it was quite challenging,” said the 42-year-old.

Produced by filmmaker Ketan Mehta under his banner Maya Digital Media, the film, directed by Chetan Desai, boasts of spectacular audio-visual experience far beyond anything ever attempted in India with skills and designs matching international standards.

While Rama’s voiceover has been given by Manoj Bajpayee, Raavan’s voice is by Ashutosh Rana. It is slated to hit the screens Friday.

Asked what her earliest memories of the Ramayan were, Juhi revealed: “I have learnt almost all my mythology practically from ‘Amar Chitra Katha’ comics. That was my connection!”

(Ruchika Kher can be contacted at ruchika.k@ians.in)