Nani is Simba in The Lion King Telugu version

Nani has been roped in to voice the iconic character of Simba in the Telugu version of the upcoming live-action film, The Lion King.

"I have been a huge fan of Disney movies since my childhood and I have fond memories of their iconic characters," Nani said in a statement.

"Simba is one such character that is a family favourite from the movie The Lion King, and when the opportunity to voice him in Telugu came my way, I was excited and thrilled! The Lion King is a perfect all-in-one family entertainer and I hope my fans and movie lovers appreciate this new role of mine," he added.

The Jungle Book fame director Jon Favreau has re-imagined the world of Disney's classic to bring alive a live-action film. He has stayed true to the classic story of Simba and used pioneering and game-changing photo-real technology, using cutting-edge tools to make the musical drama come alive on the big screen.

The film will be released in India on July 19 in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.