When Pankaj Kapur Became the Voice of Mahatma Gandhi and Lost His Job Because of Dubbing

Pankaj Kapur, a veteran Hindi film actor, recently celebrated his 71st birthday and is renowned for his exceptional acting skills and contributions to theatre and Indian cinema

Early in his career, Kapur faced significant struggles, including losing his job at the National School of Drama (NSD) due to his commitment to voice Mahatma Gandhi in the Hindi version of Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winning film, "Gandhi"

Kapur was selected for the dubbing role after impressing Richard Attenborough with his performance in the stage play "Mukhyamantri" and his audition at Nataraj Studio

He was asked to dub a challenging scene at BR Studio, where Gandhi is on a hunger strike His performance impressed Attenborough, leading to him being finalized as Gandhi's Hindi voice.

The dubbing process was strenuous, with Kapur working up to 11 hours a day, and the script frequently changing, making the task even more demanding

After losing his theatre job, Kapur moved to Mumbai, where his friend Om Puri introduced him to filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who offered him a role in the film "Arohan," marking the beginning of his Hindi cinema journey

Over time, Pankaj Kapur established himself as a respected figure in the film industry, starring in iconic films like "Rakh," "Ek Doctor Ki Maut," "Maqbool," and "Finding Fanny"

On television, he became a household name through popular shows like "Karamchand," "Neem Ka Ped," and "Office Office"

Kapur's talent has been recognized with three National Film Awards and one Filmfare Award, and he continues to contribute to Indian cinema today