Actor Mahesh Babu will voice Mufasa in the Telugu version of Disney’s highly awaited film, Mufasa: The Lion King, following Shah Rukh Khan’s work in the Hindi version. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the movie is set to release in India on December 20 in four languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Expressing his excitement for the project, Mahesh Babu shared, “I have always admired Disney’s blockbuster legacy of entertainment and timeless storytelling; the character of Mufasa appeals to me not only as a loving father guiding his son but as the supreme king of the jungle taking care of his clan.” He added, “My family means everything to me, and this collaboration with Disney is personally very special as it is an experience I will cherish with my children! I am looking forward to when my family as well as my fans will be watching Mufasa: The Lion King in Telugu on the big screen on 20th December.”
In the Telugu version of Mufasa, comedy legend Brahmanandam will lend his voice to Pumbaa, and Ali will voice Timon. Fans can look forward to the Telugu trailer launch on August 26 at 11.07 am. The film promises to bring a mix of new characters and fan-favorites to life, using a blend of live-action techniques with photorealistic computer-generated imagery.
In the Hindi version, Shah Rukh Khan reprises his role as Mufasa, with his sons Aryan Khan and AbRam Khan also lending their voices to the characters of Simba and young Mufasa, respectively. While this will mark AbRam’s voice-acting debut, Aryan has previously collaborated with Shah Rukh in 2019’s The Lion King, voicing Simba while Shah Rukh voiced Mufasa.
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origin story of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, revealing how an orphaned cub named Mufasa embarks on a journey with a lion named Taka, heir to a royal bloodline. With the guidance of Rafiki and the help of a group of misfits, Mufasa rises to become the legendary ruler.
The film’s English version features a star-studded cast, including Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, and Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros. Other notable voices include Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, and Donald Glover as Simba.
After the success of Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki, Shah Rukh Khan has no immediate film releases. However, he will soon appear in Sujoy Ghosh’s King, with rumors suggesting that his daughter Suhana Khan might be part of the cast. Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu was last seen in Guntur Kaaram, directed by Trivikram Srinivas, alongside a stellar cast including Sree Leela and Prakash Raj. He is also preparing for his role in SS Rajamouli’s much-anticipated project, tentatively titled SSMB29.
