Not just Rani Mukerji, THESE 5 actresses were dubbed in hit films
Beyond Rani's Ghulam dubbing, Katrina's Welcome lines got fixed, Rekha voiced Sridevi and late Smita Patil, Nargis needed help in Rockstar, and Bipasha's Raaz-Jism thrillers used pros. Bollywood's hidden dubbing tales reveal stars' real voice struggle.
New Delhi: Everyone knows Rani Mukerji's fresh voice in Ghulam came from someone else. But she's not alone. Many top Bollywood stars had their dialogues dubbed by pros or other actresses.
It happened for many reasons, like diction issues, health problems, or Hindi struggles. This secret side of filmdom shows how looks often trumped original voices back then. Get ready for shocking stories of Katrina, Rekha, Nargis, Bipasha, and more.
Actresses whose voices have been dubbed in films
Rani Mukerji in Ghulam
Rani Mukerji debuted with a bang in 1998's Ghulam opposite Aamir Khan. But her own voice did not cut. Aamir explained it gently, saying even Sridevi's voice got dubbed sometimes. They used a dubbing artist for her fiery lines. Later, Karan Johar loved her real voice and kept it in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. This choice helped the film become a hit.
Katrina Kaif in Welcome
Katrina Kaif shone in the 2007 comedy Welcome with Akshay Kumar. Yet, director Anees Bazmee dubbed her voice because her Hindi diction sounded off. Katrina was new to Bollywood and learning fast. They skipped a backstory excuse and picked a pro artist. By Singh Is Kinng, she dubbed herself. This fix made her bubbly role perfect. Mona Shetty used to dub Katrina's voice.
Rekha for Sridevi in Aakhree Raasta
In 1986's Aakhree Raasta, Sridevi played Amitabh Bachchan's wife. But her early Hindi skills were weak, so Rekha lent her deep, sensuous voice. Sridevi ruled South films but needed help in Hindi. Rekha's dubbing added magic to emotional scenes. The film was a massive blockbuster. Rekha often helped like this. Baby Naaz also used to dub for Sridevi.
Rekha for Smita Patil in Waaris
Rekha dubbed again in 1988's Waaris for Smita Patil. Smita fell ill and died before finishing, so Rekha stepped in for her lines. Smita won a posthumous Best Actress award. The drama starred Raj Babbar too. Rekha's voice honoured her friend and saved the film. It touched hearts on family bonds.
Nargis Fakhri in Rockstar
Model-turned-actress Nargis Fakhri debuted in 2011's Rockstar with Ranbir Kapoor. Director Imtiaz Ali trained her in Hindi, but her voice got dubbed by Mona Ghosh Shetty. Even promos used Mona's work. Nargis played the love interest in this music hit. The dubbing suited the songs and drama.
Bipasha Basu in Raaz and Jism
Bipasha Basu had her voice dubbed by Mona Ghosh Shetty in early hits like 2002's Raaz and 2003's Jism. These thrillers made her a sensation. Bipasha later joked she'd kill Mona if dubbed again. She wanted her own voice after that. Mona's work fit her bold roles perfectly.