“Tiger” creator Roy Conli: Priyanka Chopra is a phenomenal actress who infuses India with a certain genuineness – Exclusive

Hollywood producer Roy Conli is back with another powerful animal documentary, “Tiger.” Conli has been the driving force behind some of the most important films, including the blockbuster “Frozen” and the animated masterpiece “Tangled.” Roy gives an exclusive interview to ETimes in which he discusses what makes “Tiger” unique in his impressive resume.

Conli also talks about how Priyanka Chopra Jonas was chosen for the role of “Tiger,” and she clarifies whether the actress’s prior performance in “The Jungle Book” had any bearing on her choice. He also discusses the significance of maintaining India’s unique storytelling customs and the possibility of upcoming initiatives that honor the nation’s rich wildlife legacy.

You’ve been the inspiration for many influential wildlife and nature documentaries, as well as some of Hollywood’s most important animation films. You have created “Elephants,” “Penguins,” and now “Tigers.” What is it about this most recent movie that you find most meaningful, and are you working toward finishing a series?

It’s intriguing because, in 2015, I had the good fortune to get associated with Disney Nature. Making these kinds of documentaries has been an absolute delight and is a testament to the Walt Disney Company’s tradition. ‘What film would you be interested in doing?’ they inquired. and I conducted a quick straw poll at the animation studio, and the results showed that tigers are the animal that people adore the most. I used to be an elephant man, but after seeing this movie, I became a huge lover of tigers because of their incredible beauty and consciousness. Regarding the series, I believe my goal is to go to as many different parts of the globe as I can in order to raise awareness of the value and beauty of all living things.

What qualities do filmmakers and producers seek in voice performers, whether it’s Megan Markle in “Elephants,” Scott Adsit as “Baymax,” or Mandy Moore in “Entangled”? What made Priyanka Chopra the right choice?
It’s true that Priyanka adds some authenticity to India, and I believe it was crucial to capture the essence of the country. The best thing about Priyanka is that she’s a fantastic actor with a great sense of storytelling. She picked it up right away, even though narration may be quite challenging for actors at times since it requires a different understanding of language than acting. She was amazing, and I really believe that this movie has a fantastic performance from her.
Was Priyanka’s taped audition for this film, in any way, her portrayal of Kaa in The Jungle Book?
Not at all, no (laughs)! It’s hilarious because we instantly thought of her. As someone who works in animation, I’m always highly aware of voice and am among the select few who can recognize an actor in a commercial. Since tigers are such magnificent creatures, I was aware that Priyanka has a lovely voice and that we were in need of someone of her caliber. Priyanka has two adopted tigers and loves tigers as well.
Indian documentaries with strong roots in their original tongue, such as “To Kill a Tiger” and “Elephant Whisperers,” have been winning praise. Was there ever a thought of recording “Tiger” in Hindi?
We were unable to produce a Hindi version of this movie in time, which is terrible since I would have liked to watch one. India contributes stories and literary components to the forest, which are quite significant. We’re hoping that this performance will be able to make an emotional connection with viewers.
Priyanka Chopra tells the tale of Ambar, a young tigress rearing her kids in the Indian woods, in the Disneynature documentary “Tiger.” On April 22, Earth Day, the documentary becomes live on Disney+ Hotstar for streaming.