Rajesh Khattar
A master of vocal disguise whose rich baritone has given life to hundreds of characters in Bollywood dubs and animated worlds.
Born 1966 (age 60)·Indian actor, voice actor and screenwriter·Birthday: September 24·Generation X
Biography
Rajesh Khattar's voice is one of the most recognizable yet unseen forces in Indian entertainment. While his on-screen presence in films like 'Don' and 'Race' established him as a capable character actor, his true empire is built in the recording booth. With a vocal range that can swing from menacing villainy to warm authority, he became the go-to voice for international stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gerard Butler, and Johnny Depp in their Hindi-dubbed releases, seamlessly adapting their personas for a massive audience. His work extends deep into animation, where he has voiced iconic characters like Krillin in 'Dragon Ball Z' and Puss in Boots in the 'Shrek' franchise for Indian viewers. This duality—being both a visible actor and a behind-the-scenes vocal chameleon—marks a unique career. He is also part of a notable film family, as the father of actor Ishaan Khattar and former stepfather to Shahid Kapoor.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rajesh was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rajesh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Rajesh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- One of the most sought-after voice artists in India, having dubbed for over 200 Hollywood films in Hindi.
- Voiced Krillin in the Hindi dub of the globally popular anime series 'Dragon Ball Z'.
- Founded the voice-over agency 'Voice Weavers' to nurture new talent in the field.
Did You Know?
He is the father of Bollywood actor Ishaan Khattar and was formerly married to actress Neelima Azeem.
He provided the Hindi voice for the character of Aslan the lion in 'The Chronicles of Narnia' films.
Before acting, he worked in the hotel industry.
“A voice must paint a picture before a single frame is shown.”
