Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan recently opened up about how the iconic Disney character Mufasa’s journey resonates with him, drawing parallels between his life and Mufasa’s story in The Lion King prequel.
Shah Rukh has lent his voice to Mufasa in the Hindi version of the upcoming film Mufasa: The Lion King.
In a video shared by Walt Disney Studios India on Wednesday, Shah Rukh reflected on Mufasa’s inspiring story of overcoming adversity, alluding to his own rise as one of India’s most celebrated actors.
“Ek Baadshah ki kahani, Baadshah ki zubaani 🦁,” the caption of the one-minute-eight-second-long video reads.
The video opens with Shah Rukh narrating Mufasa’s tale, highlighting the hardships faced by the character and his eventual triumph. “Yeh kahaani hai ek aese raja ki jise virasat ki roshni nahi, tanhaiyo ki virasat mili,” Shah Rukh sets the tone for an emotional journey.
Drawing comparisons between himself and Mufasa, Shah Rukh adds: “Lekin uski rago mein behta tha uska junoon. Aur usi junoon se usne zameen se uthkar aasmaaan ko chhua. Zameen par toh kayi badshah hukumat karte aaye hai par usne raaj kiya sabhi ke dilon par. Halath ki aandhiyon se utha, ek saccha raja. Kaafi milti julti hai na yeh kahani? Par yeh kahani hai Mufasa ki”.
Shah Rukh’s narration is accompanied by glimpses of the upcoming film, showcasing the visually-stunning world of the Pride Lands.
The Hindi version of Mufasa: The Lion King also features Shah Rukh’s son Aryan Khan as the voice of Simba. His youngest son, AbRam Khan, will voice young Mufasa. Sanjay Mishra (Pumbaa), Shreyas Talpade (Timon) and Meiyang Chang (Taka) round out the voice cast.
Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins, the prequel to Disney’s 2019 remake of The Lion King is scheduled for a theatrical release in India on December 20 in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
