When Sitara Ghattamaneni teased dad Mahesh Babu over the Disney milestone as he took on the Mufasa role; said, "I keep making fun of him"

When December 2024 rolled around, the Telugu film industry and Disney fans alike were buzzing with excitement as superstar Mahesh Babu lent his voice to the iconic Mufasa in the Telugu version of Mufasa: The Lion King. But amidst the hype, it was his daughter, Sitara Ghattamaneni, who stole the show with her playful jabs, reminding everyone of her own Disney credentials in a heartwarming throwback moment that captured their endearing father-daughter bond.
A Disney debut to remember
Back in 2019, a then-7-year-old Sitara made her mark with Disney, voicing Baby Elsa in the Telugu dubbed version of Frozen 2. It was a proud milestone for the Ghattamaneni family, with Mahesh and his wife, Namrata Shirodkar, celebrating their little star’s early brush with global cinema. Fast forward to December 2024, and Sitara couldn’t resist poking fun at her dad when he stepped into the Disney universe. “I keep making fun of him that I worked with Disney first through Frozen,” she quipped in a promotional video, her grin lighting up the screen.
Mahesh as Mufasa: A Family Affair
Mahesh’s role in Mufasa: The Lion King, released on December 20, 2024, marked his first venture into voice acting, a challenge he embraced with dedication. Sitara, reflecting on this in the promo, gushed, “I feel proud that my dad is playing Mufasa because it’s such an iconic character.” She drew parallels between Mufasa and Mahesh, calling him “loving, protective, and caring” in real life, traits she saw mirrored in their pet dog Snoopy’s playful moments with her father. “He practiced a lot,” she added, hinting at the effort behind his roaring debut.
Meanwhile, 'Mufasa: The Lion King' was released in Hindi, featuring Shah Rukh Khan as the voice of Mufasa. Joining him are his sons, Aryan Khan and AbRam Khan, who play key roles in the film. Aryan has voiced the teenage Mufasa, while AbRam makes his voice-acting debut as the young Mufasa.
For those unfamiliar, Mufasa is a prequel to the 2019 hit 'The Lion King'.