Author Rudyard Kipling's epic adventure stories from "The Jungle Book" have been re-imagined by director Jon Favreau and the sneak peeks of the film (by the same name) appear positively thirlling. Leading from the front is New York-born 12-year-old Neel Sethi (Mowgli), who gives his two cents on Shah Rukh Khan being Sher Khan.
When asked if SRK would make a good Sher Khan, Neel said the superstar's voice sure sounds like the character. "I don't know though but yes, his voice is very much like Sher Khan's," he told Deccan Chronicle. Priyanka Chopra, who gave her voice to Kaa for the Hindi version, is "very cool," the child actor added and we couldn't agree more.
In a recently-released behind-the-scenes video from the recording studio, Priyanka looks excited about being a part of the fantasy film. "There are so many layers to Kaa and that was what was fun for me to bring in. It's just not a sexy, sultry voice. It's what the voice evokes. It's like the fly trap, the praying mantis. She brings you in, (she is) comforting, (she) feels like home," she said in the video.
Om Puri, Nana Patekar and Irrfan Khan are other voice talents who feature in the Hindi adaptation. Bill Murray (Baloo), Ben Kingsley (Bagheera), Idris Elba (Sher Khan), Lupita Nyong'o (Raksha), and Scarlett Johansson (Kaa) are some of the artistes who have lent their voice for the English version.
Talking about his experience working on the film alongside styrofoams, he said Jon would often slip into a puppet's costume and interact with him. "I tried my best. Every time I did a scene well, I said, 'Neeled it!' instead of 'nailed it'. So that was kind of a thing on the sets," he told the leading daily.
"The Jungle Book" arrives in theatres April 8. It follows the story of Mowgli, who is up against Sher Khan, the tiger whose face was disfigured in a fire started by the orphan's father. After being left alone in a cave, Mowgli finds a wise friend in Baloo, the panther and is raised by a pack of wolves.
Check the video:
