While you can understand why John Abraham would require 'dialogue-orientation classes' (he took the classes with Anurag Kashyap for his role in Deepa Mehta's Water) and agree with Katrina Kaif taking 'voice lessons' (for her public speech scene in Raajneeti), do you think Saif Ali Khan and Prateik Babbar would require a similar session?
Surely, Khan would have convinced anyone of his dialogue-delivery with his performance as a thug in Omkara and Babbar is after all the son of legendary actress Smita Patil. However, all this doesn't pass muster with Prakash Jha.
With the shooting of Aarakshan complete, director Jha has asked both Khan and Babbar to take some time off for 'voice rehearsals' before dubbing begins. After hearing them deliver their lines during the shoot, Jha felt both actors needed to work on their diction and accent.
Aarakshan is set in Bhopal and is based on the issue of caste-based reservations in government jobs.
According to a source, "Prakash felt they would be able to carry off their lines effortlessly, since he has seen Saif deliver his colloquial lines brilliantly in Omkara. Prateik's mother Smita Patil spoke Hindi beautifully."
But the unforeseen happened, when the two actors had to share space with Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Bajpai. That's when Jha realised that the two younger stars needed major work. Babbar has reportedly been told that he needs to put in more effort than Khan.
Jha confirmed the news. "Saif has completed his rehearsals and will start dubbing this week. Prateik will take a little longer. He's marvellous on screen, but needs to work on his dialogues. We're putting him through a period of voice training, " Jha said.
