In late November, Crunchyroll announced an exciting casting decision for the forthcoming season of Solo Leveling. Renowned Indian actor Rana Daggubati joined the project, taking on the significant role of the Ice Elf King Barca as the voice in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. This announcement thrilled Indian anime enthusiasts, as his commanding and unique voice promised to enhance the Hindi-dubbed version of the omnibus film Solo Leveling - ReAwakening, which is set to have an early theatrical release on December 4.

Following this announcement, which brought joy to Indian fans, Crunchyroll disclosed that the Baahubali star would be making a special appearance at the Delhi Comic Con 2024 on December 6. Daggubati captivated attendees at the Crunchyroll booth and took the stage at the fan convention, where he also participated in an exclusive screening of the new Solo Leveling film. This series of events effectively built anticipation for the arrival of Season 2 in the upcoming year.

Daggubati openly shared his thoughts on this new venture of voicing an anime character, drawing comparisons to his previous roles. He also expressed his desire to host three villains from his film career on his talk show.

What drew Rana Daggubati to Solo Leveling’s Barca

Rana Daggubati, in the promotional video for his role as Ice Elf King Barca, indicated that he has been receiving numerous offers for villainous characters for some time. Nevertheless, he ultimately decided to take on the role of the mysterious antagonist in Solo Leveling Season 2 by lending his voice to the character.

Reflecting on what influenced his decision, the Indian actor stated, “Throughout my life, I have sought out experiences that excite me and allow me to learn about new cultures. My entire existence has revolved around films, and the cultures I am familiar with have been shaped by what I have watched and experienced.”

He further elaborated, “The beauty of being an artist lies in the unpredictability of your journey; you may discover aspects of the world you never knew existed, presented in the most captivating manner and nearby.”

Barca’s intimidating character won’t be lost in translation

Exploring the nuances of emotion and rhythm that often become diluted in translation, Daggubati assured the audience that this would not be the case for any of the three Indian dubs of his character in Solo Leveling. He stated, “The character's guidelines are so distinct that they will resonate similarly across all languages.” I inquired whether any of the three versions conveyed a more menacing tone than the others.

He asserted that all three versions maintained an equal level of menace as the original. Additionally, he emphasized that he encountered no difficulties in voicing Barca in Hindi, Tamil, or Telugu.

Reflecting on the translation process in Indian cinema, he remarked, “I believe it wasn't particularly challenging because we have been doing this with films. In the past four to five years, we have been producing Telugu films to reach Hindi and Tamil audiences, ensuring that viewers worldwide can experience them.” Regarding anime, he pointed out that it “serves as a particularly accessible medium for those who do not prioritize language… it is fundamentally about storytelling.”

Remembering his old Thanos days

The esteemed actor, tasked with the role of voicing Barca in Solo Leveling, reflected on how this responsibility reminded him of his previous experience voicing the formidable Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

He characterized his earlier experience as “beautiful” and drew parallels with his current role, noting that he was travelling when the first film was released. Consequently, he remarked, “I was able to watch the film knowing all the scenes featuring Thanos, yet I was unfamiliar with the rest of the movie. It was truly exhilarating because I felt a sense of ownership over the character, thinking, ‘Now I am Thanos, and this is my world.’ It was a distinctly unique experience.”

He further elaborated, “I doubt anyone else has had the opportunity to see certain segments beforehand. I believe a similar situation has arisen with Barca.”

What Rana Daggubati would like fans to take away from the new Solo Levelling season and his character

We ultimately explored the complexities of his character, Barca, alongside the protagonist of Solo Leveling, Sung Jinwoo, both of whom exemplify grey characters that do not conform to the traditional hero-villain dichotomy. This discussion prompted Rana to express his desire for fans to perceive the latest instalment as “a truly enjoyable experience,” emphasizing an “underdog” storyline.

At the same time, he encouraged audiences to remain receptive to the exploration of “profound themes of societal rejection” and the existence of individuals who provide support, or those “who stand by you.”

“These are valuable lessons that the narrative imparts, albeit in a highly entertaining and violent manner.”

Rana’s mean invitees on his talk show

I ultimately posed a hypothetical scenario to him, inquiring about which of his villainous roles he would invite to appear on the unfiltered Prime Video talk show, The Rana Daggubati Show. He selected three characters from his extensive filmography: Barca from Solo Leveling, Thanos from Marvel, and the iconic Bhallaladeva from Baahubali.

Rana, refusing to take on the role of mediator in this imagined scenario, candidly remarked, “I’ll simply say, ‘Alright, let’s have drinks,’ and observe what unfolds. I won’t guide the conversation; I will allow those individuals to direct it as they see fit.”

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