Dhanush shares Raanjhanaa dubbing experience and challenges at a special event in Mumbai organized for the film‘s 12th anniversary, shedding light on the difficulties he and the team faced behind the scenes. Surrounded by co-stars and crew, he recounted moments from the popular movie’s production that tested his patience and determination.
Celebrating 12 Years of Raanjhanaa with the Team
The 12th anniversary of Raanjhanaa was commemorated at a multiplex in Mumbai through a fan screening hosted by DIY Solutions. Present at the event were actors Dhanush and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Naman Jain, director Aanand L Rai, writer Himanshu Sharma, lyricist Irshad Kamil, and other team members. Although Sonam Kapoor could not attend, her presence was honored with her picture placed on an empty seat. The festivities commenced with the screening, followed by a comedic performance from Devansh Singh. Laksh Maheshwari both narrated the story of the film and led an engaging conversation with the guests.
Dhanush Describes His Intense Dubbing Experience
When addressing the audience, Dhanush expressed his sincere gratitude to those who continued to support the film over the years. —Dhanush, Actor
As the discussion turned to his experience working on the film, Dhanush admitted,
“None of the scenes were tough for me. I deal with all the scenes in the same way. The toughest part was the dubbing. I dubbed myself. Now, I can at least say a few words, but back then, I did not know the Hindi language. Himanshu and I wanted to kill each other. Himanshu would be there when I was dubbing. He would correct me. I’ll say ‘Baabi’ and he’ll say, ‘Its Bhabhi’. I’ll argue, ‘I said the same thing’! He would remark that its ‘Bha’ and I would pronounce it as ‘Ba’! Hence, it was tougher for him than for me. However, I was very angry with him as I used to dub Tamil films in a day while dubbing for Raanjhanaa took 8-9 days. It kept going and I was getting frustrated.”
—Dhanush, Actor
Navigating Language Barriers and Body Language on Set
When asked about adapting to the body language expected from a North Indian character, Dhanush shared with a hint of humor,
“That’s not true. I didn’t do anything. Body language means what? All boys are the same!”
—Dhanush, Actor
He further elaborated on how he managed performance details, stating,
“I just copied what Himanshu told me. I didn’t understand the pronunciation, which word to stress and also the body language like you said. He would send me voice notes every night. He used to talk so fast that I thought it was better I would prepare without the voice notes (smiles)!”
—Dhanush, Actor
Unscripted Moments and Team Collaboration
During the event, director Aanand L Rai reflected on moments in the film that were driven by raw emotion rather than pre-written visuals,
“The emotion was always a part of the script, but the visual was not”
—Aanand L Rai, Director
These stories highlighted how collaboration between Dhanush, writer Himanshu Sharma, and the rest of the team—from Irshad Kamil’s lyrics to Laksh Maheshwari’s storytelling—were crucial in overcoming language and cultural challenges as they created Raanjhanaa.
The Enduring Impact of Raanjhanaa
The reunion in Mumbai underscored the long-lasting connection between the film’s creators and its fans. The candid insights offered by Dhanush and director Aanand L Rai revealed emotional and technical hurdles, as well as the passion fueling their creative process. As Raanjhanaa continues to resonate with audiences 12 years later, the event demonstrated the power of persistence, teamwork, and enduring love for cinema among all involved with the project.
