Dubbing, a cool Plan B

With Mumbai imports ruling Tollywood, dubbing as a career option has never been this lucrative. From actors and singers to RJs, many Telugu-speaking people from the industry are moonlighting as dubbing artistes and are making neat cuts from their assignments. It is not just a profitable source of income but also an interesting challenge, say these showbiz personalities who are in great demand for their dubbing skills.
Actor Swati who dubbed for Illeana in Jalsa, says, “I took up the assignment for fun, but it was very tough. After that, I got a lot of offers to dub for other actors, but since I am busy with my films, I’ve reserved them for later. The best part is that you need to spare just a few hours a day and end up earning a great fee.”
Dubbing artistes who lend their voice to lead characters earn anything from Rs 30,000 to Rs 3 lakh, depending on the number of scenes and the actor they are dubbing for.
Lucrative it may be, but it requires a lot of skill, says, singer Sunitha who has dubbed for more than 650 movies till date. “The trick is to ensure that the audience doesn’t feel that all heroines have the same voice. I try different styles and variations for each actor I dub for,” who has also dubbed for Telugu actors.
The flexible timings are the icing on the cake, claims RJ Sowmya, who juggles dubbing for movies and anchoring radio shows. “Most of the dubbing assignments are scheduled early in the morning since the voice sounds fresh then. Thanks to this, it doesn’t clash with my RJing schedules, nor do I feel tired,” adds this RJ who has dubbed for the likes of Anushka, Nayantara, Kaja Agarwal, Illeana and Mamata Mohandas. She recently bagged a Nandi award for her dubbing in Lakshyam.
Nagarjuna, a commerce lecturer in Little Flower Junior College, who moonlights as a dubbing artiste couldn’t agree more. “This is a great way to spend time and make money on weekends and vacations. If there is a pressing demand, the college management grants me leave too. I have dubbed for Prabhu Deva, Napoleon, Arjun and Venu.”


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