# Sharad Kelkar
**Sharad Kelkar** (born 1976, Gwalior)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) is an Indian actor who works across Hindi and Marathi film, television and streaming series.[1](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-who-dubbed-for-prabhas-in-hindi-baahubali-used-to-stammer/story-HxLKxcyIUzCyIngcBCEbzL.html) He became a familiar television face through serials such as *Saat Phere* and *Kuch Toh Log Kahenge*, moved into film roles with wider recognition in [Sanjay Leela Bhansali](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-leela-bhansali)'s *Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela* (2013), and reached a mass Hindi audience as the Hindi dubbing voice of Prabhas in the *Baahubali* films.[1](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-who-dubbed-for-prabhas-in-hindi-baahubali-used-to-stammer/story-HxLKxcyIUzCyIngcBCEbzL.html) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/) His screen roles include the antagonist Sangram in the Marathi hit *Lai Bhaari* (2014) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in *Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior* (2020).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) • [4](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/exclusive-sharad-kelkar-on-shivaji-jayanti-matter-of-pride-to-have-played-chhtrapati-shivaji-on-screen-in-tanhaji-101708310406793.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/bio/) |
| Television debut | *Aakrosh* (2004, Doordarshan) as Inspector Sachin Kulkarni; film debut the same year in *Hulchul*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) |
| Defining TV roles | *Saat Phere*, *Uttaran*, *Agent Raghav*, *Kuch Toh Log Kahenge*[1](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-who-dubbed-for-prabhas-in-hindi-baahubali-used-to-stammer/story-HxLKxcyIUzCyIngcBCEbzL.html) |
| Known film roles | Sangram in *Lai Bhaari* (2014); Shivaji Maharaj in *Tanhaji* (2020); RK Nair in *Bhuj: The Pride of India* (2021)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) |
| Signature dubbing | Hindi voice of Prabhas in *Baahubali: The Beginning* (2015) and *Baahubali 2: The Conclusion* (2017) and *Adipurush*; Nani in *Dasara*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/) |
| Award | Gold Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role (Critics), 2010, for *Bairi Piya*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) |
| Education | Degree in physical education; MBA in Marketing, Prestige Institute of Management and Research, Gwalior[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) • [1](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-who-dubbed-for-prabhas-in-hindi-baahubali-used-to-stammer/story-HxLKxcyIUzCyIngcBCEbzL.html) |
## Early life and background
Kelkar was born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, into a Marathi family.[1](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-who-dubbed-for-prabhas-in-hindi-baahubali-used-to-stammer/story-HxLKxcyIUzCyIngcBCEbzL.html) His father died when he was young, and his mother raised him single-handedly.[5](https://scroll.in/reel/850965/from-gym-instructor-to-menacing-villain-sharad-kelkars-journey-towards-the-spotlight) At school he specialized in maths; he then graduated in sports and physical education and completed an MBA in marketing at the Prestige Institute of Management and Research in Gwalior.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/)
**From gym to camera.** In 2000 he started a gym in a club in Gwalior, earning around Rs 2,500 a month, and wanted to work as soon as possible after graduating at age 23.[5](https://scroll.in/reel/850965/from-gym-instructor-to-menacing-villain-sharad-kelkars-journey-towards-the-spotlight) A paid modeling offer of Rs 5,000 made him cancel a return ticket and stay in the business; modeling assignments and a place as a finalist in the Grasim Mr India contest spurred his move into show business.[5](https://scroll.in/reel/850965/from-gym-instructor-to-menacing-villain-sharad-kelkars-journey-towards-the-spotlight) • [6](https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/right-on-target/article7607630.ece) He has described himself as an "actor by fluke" with no formal acting training: "I have not attended any school or institute and have learnt everything hands on. I learnt while earning."[6](https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/right-on-target/article7607630.ece)
A stammer that dated to his childhood nearly ended his career before it started. In 2003 he was replaced on the first day of a shoot because of it, an experience he has called life-changing.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/) He corrected it through breathing control: "Once I got control over my breathing, things started improving."[5](https://scroll.in/reel/850965/from-gym-instructor-to-menacing-villain-sharad-kelkars-journey-towards-the-spotlight) He has said he still sometimes battles the stammer.[7](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/after-bhuj-laxmii-family-man-sharad-kelkar-is-ready-for-a-solo-film-interview-1845238-2021-08-25)
## Television career
His first acting job was *Aakrosh*, a finite thriller produced by Nimbus for DD1, which ran for three to four months in 2004 and on whose set he met his wife, the actor Keerti.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) • [8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/sharad-kelkar-acting-debut-aakrosh-tv-show-doordarshan-first-of-many-7458174/) The same year he made a small Bollywood debut as Dr. "Sattu" Satyendra Mishra in *Hulchul*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/)
Television made him a household name. He became recognized among TV audiences through *Saat Phere*, *Uttaran* and *Agent Raghav*, and *Kuch Toh Log Kahenge*, *Sinndoor Tere Naam Ka* and *[Koi Laut Ke Aaya Hai](https://www.edgepedia.org/koi-laut-ke-aaya-hai)* are also counted among his serials.[1](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-who-dubbed-for-prabhas-in-hindi-baahubali-used-to-stammer/story-HxLKxcyIUzCyIngcBCEbzL.html) • [8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/sharad-kelkar-acting-debut-aakrosh-tv-show-doordarshan-first-of-many-7458174/) In *Kuch Toh Log Kahenge* he took over the male lead Dr Ashutosh from Mohnish Behl in 2012.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) In *Agent Raghav* (2015–2016, &TV) he played the title character, Agent Raghav Sinha.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) His negative role as Thakur Digvijay Singh Bhadoria/Ranveer in *Bairi Piya* (2009) won the Gold Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role (Critics) in 2010.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/)
## Film career
His Marathi film *Uttarayan* (2005) paid for his first home, and he credits it as his first Marathi film after gaining control of his stammer.[5](https://scroll.in/reel/850965/from-gym-instructor-to-menacing-villain-sharad-kelkars-journey-towards-the-spotlight) Wider Hindi film recognition came with *Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela* (2013), directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/)
**Marathi and Telugu work.** In *Lai Bhaari* (2014) he played the antagonist Sangram; the film was received positively and became one of the highest-grossing Marathi films at the time.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) He made his Telugu debut as Raja Bhairon Singh in *[Sardaar Gabbar Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/sardaar-gabbar-singh)* (2016), a performance that drew a SIIMA Award nomination.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/)
**Historical and genre roles.** His Hindi film credits from the 2010s include *Mohenjo Daro*, *[Rocky Handsome](https://www.edgepedia.org/rocky-handsome)* and *Housefull 4*, in which he played Suryabhan/Micheal Bhai.[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/exclusive-sharad-kelkar-on-portraying-a-transgender-in-laxmii-the-transgender-community-must-be-empowered-and-given-due-respect/articleshow/79172725.cms) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) In *Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior* (2020) he played Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and in the Marathi film *Har Har Mahadev* (2022) he played [Baji Prabhu Deshpande](https://www.edgepedia.org/baji-prabhu-deshpande); that film was released in five languages.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) In *Laxmii* (2020) he played a wronged transgender character who rises to avenge the wrong as a spirit, and in *[Bhuj: The Pride of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhuj-the-pride-of-india)* (2021) he played RK Nair, a military officer defending an army base and the Bhuj airstrip.[7](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/after-bhuj-laxmii-family-man-sharad-kelkar-is-ready-for-a-solo-film-interview-1845238-2021-08-25)
## Voice and dubbing work
Dubbing is the second pillar of his public profile. The Hindi *Baahubali* films made him, in the phrasing of one interview profile, one of the most heard voices in India.[1](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-who-dubbed-for-prabhas-in-hindi-baahubali-used-to-stammer/story-HxLKxcyIUzCyIngcBCEbzL.html) His most popular dubbing outing remains the franchise, in which he voiced Prabhas's characters in *Baahubali: The Beginning* (2015) and *Baahubali 2: The Conclusion* (2017); for the Hindi-speaking audience his baritone as Mahendra Baahubali was central to the films' reception.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) • [7](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/after-bhuj-laxmii-family-man-sharad-kelkar-is-ready-for-a-solo-film-interview-1845238-2021-08-25) He has also dubbed Prabhas in *Adipurush* and Nani's character in *Dasara*.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/)
Hollywood dubbing credits named in interviews include *Guardians of the Galaxy*, *Captain Marvel*, *Furious 7*, *xXx: Return of Xander Cage* and *X-Men*, plus *[Exodus: Gods and Kings](https://www.edgepedia.org/exodus-gods-and-kings)*, *Mad Max: Fury Road* and *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes*.[8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/sharad-kelkar-acting-debut-aakrosh-tv-show-doordarshan-first-of-many-7458174/) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/) • [6](https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/right-on-target/article7607630.ece) Beyond films, he was the narrator and voice of *The Legend of Hanuman* (2021) in Hindi[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/), and he voiced [Wolverine](https://www.edgepedia.org/wolverine) in *Marvel's Wastelanders*, a Hindi Audible original series.[10](https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/how-stammering-as-a-child-and-getting-into-fights-made-actor-sharad-kelkar-relate-to-wolverine-exclusive) He treats dubbing itself as voice-modulation training that feeds his acting.[5](https://scroll.in/reel/850965/from-gym-instructor-to-menacing-villain-sharad-kelkars-journey-towards-the-spotlight) The arc is notable: an actor who was once dropped for stammering became a defining Hindi dubbing voice.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/)
## Recent work and announced projects
His streaming credits include *[The Family Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-family-man-indian-tv-series)* (2019, [Amazon Prime](https://www.edgepedia.org/amazon-prime)) and the role of Yatin Mehrotra in *Black Widows* (2020, Zee5).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) In an interview in early 2024 he listed upcoming work in [Rohit Shetty](https://www.edgepedia.org/rohit-shetty)'s digital debut web show *Indian Police Force*, Jio Studios's *Doctors* and *Slum Golf*, and a Tamil debut in *Ayalaan*, slated for 2024 release.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/) In an August 2021 interview he had also announced *Deja-Vu*, a single-character film.[7](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/after-bhuj-laxmii-family-man-sharad-kelkar-is-ready-for-a-solo-film-interview-1845238-2021-08-25)
## Reception and recognition
His awards and nominations span television, film and voice work: the 2010 Gold Award (Critics) for the villain of *Bairi Piya*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) and a SIIMA nomination for his Telugu debut in *Sardaar Gabbar Singh*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) He has said that people remember bad guys more than the good guys.[5](https://scroll.in/reel/850965/from-gym-instructor-to-menacing-villain-sharad-kelkars-journey-towards-the-spotlight) Of his roles, playing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in *Tanhaji*, one of the biggest hits of his career, gave him the greatest sense of achievement; director [Om Raut](https://www.edgepedia.org/om-raut) cast him after a look test. "For a Maharashtrian, Marathi actor, this role is once in a lifetime. It's the biggest achievement," he said.[4](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/exclusive-sharad-kelkar-on-shivaji-jayanti-matter-of-pride-to-have-played-chhtrapati-shivaji-on-screen-in-tanhaji-101708310406793.html)
His family life, as publicly reported, includes his marriage to the actor [Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/keerti-gaekwad-kelkar) in 2005, whom he says he met on the set of *Aakrosh*, and one child.[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/bio/) • [8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/sharad-kelkar-acting-debut-aakrosh-tv-show-doordarshan-first-of-many-7458174/) One account places their first meeting on the set of *Sinndoor Tere Naam Ka* (2007) while giving the marriage year as 2005; his own interview account, meeting on *Aakrosh*, is the more direct one, and the discrepancy is unresolved.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/) • [8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/sharad-kelkar-acting-debut-aakrosh-tv-show-doordarshan-first-of-many-7458174/)
## References
1. [Sharad Kelkar, who dubbed for Prabhas in Hindi Baahubali, used to stammer, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-who-dubbed-for-prabhas-in-hindi-baahubali-used-to-stammer/story-HxLKxcyIUzCyIngcBCEbzL.html)
2. [Sharad Kelkar says he was kicked out of his first show on day 1 of shoot, Indian Express (2024)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sharad-kelkar-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-first-show-on-day-1-of-shoot-it-changed-his-life-i-was-stammering-8971319/)
3. [Sharad Kelkar (I), IMDb filmography database](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/)
4. [Sharad Kelkar on Shivaji Jayanti: 'Matter of pride' to have played Chhatrapati Shivaji on screen in Tanhaji, Hindustan Times (February 2024)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/exclusive-sharad-kelkar-on-shivaji-jayanti-matter-of-pride-to-have-played-chhtrapati-shivaji-on-screen-in-tanhaji-101708310406793.html)
5. [Sharad Kelkar interview: 'People remember bad guys more than the good guys', Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/reel/850965/from-gym-instructor-to-menacing-villain-sharad-kelkars-journey-towards-the-spotlight)
6. [Right on target, The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/right-on-target/article7607630.ece)
7. [After Bhuj, Laxmii, Family Man, Sharad Kelkar is ready for a solo film: Interview, India Today (August 2021)](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/after-bhuj-laxmii-family-man-sharad-kelkar-is-ready-for-a-solo-film-interview-1845238-2021-08-25)
8. [First of Many: Sharad Kelkar revisits Aakrosh, Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/sharad-kelkar-acting-debut-aakrosh-tv-show-doordarshan-first-of-many-7458174/)
9. [Sharad Kelkar on portraying a transgender in 'Laxmii', Times of India (2020)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/exclusive-sharad-kelkar-on-portraying-a-transgender-in-laxmii-the-transgender-community-must-be-empowered-and-given-due-respect/articleshow/79172725.cms)
10. [How stammering as a child made Sharad Kelkar relate to Wolverine, Free Press Journal](https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/how-stammering-as-a-child-and-getting-into-fights-made-actor-sharad-kelkar-relate-to-wolverine-exclusive)
11. [Sharad Kelkar - Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2821544/bio/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 2010s onward › Surnames H to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license