The ABC of stunts in Bollywood, Akshay Kumar’s insurance and how it still is risky

The recent death of popular stuntman Raju on the set of Pa Ranjith and actor Arya’s upcoming Tamil film has once again brought safety concerns in the entertainment industry into the spotlight. To understand how stunt work operates in the Hindi film industry and what safeguards are in place, IndiaToday.in spoke with action director Vikram Singh Dahiya, who has worked in Bollywood for over a decade in films like Dhadak 2, Jigra, Gunjan Saxena, Antim and OMG 2. He also revealed how Akshay Kumar spearheading health and accident insurance for stunt professionals has helped them.

Dahiya is no stranger to the high-stakes world of stunt work, having directed action sequences for multiple films and collaborated with stars like Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. He shared how the industry has evolved, the role of insurance, and how Akshay Kumar contributed to improving conditions for stunt professionals.

Safety is always a priority-but accidents can still happen

Dahiya insists that today’s Bollywood sets are far more safety-conscious than in the past. “We always take precautions,” he says. “For instance, during car flips, we install protective rods, called ‘cages’ inside the vehicle. The driver is strapped in tightly with a professional-grade harness to avoid any movement during impact.”

Even fuel tanks are monitored. “We ensure there’s just enough petrol to complete the scene, maybe 250–300 meters of driving, but never more than necessary,” he adds. “But once the car flips, it’s out of your hands. You can only plan to a point.”

Despite all these measures, Dahiya acknowledges that stunt work remains inherently risky. “Even with padding and proper training, when we pull someone with ropes at 30–40 km/hr for a fall, the body absorbs shock. It’s calculated risk-but risk nonetheless.”

On the fatal Chennai incident

In a tragic accident, stuntman Mohan Raj, fondly called Raju, died on the set of Pa Ranjith and actor Arya’s upcoming film. The accident took place on July 13 while Raju was executing a car stunt. Speaking about the recent fatal stunt in Chennai, Dahiya expressed his condolences. “It was a very unfortunate accident,” he said, adding that while he wasn’t present and doesn’t have details about the South industry’s safety protocols, Bollywood has made strides in ensuring protection for its stunt professionals.

Akshay Kumar gifted insurance to the industry

One of the most notable improvements in Bollywood, Dahiya says, came through actor Akshay Kumar, who initiated health and accident insurance for stunt professionals.

“Thanks to Akshay sir, around 650–700 stuntmen and action crew members in Bollywood are now covered under insurance,” he reveals. “It includes both health and accident insurance. If a stuntman is injured on or off set, he can avail of cashless treatment up to Rs 5–5.5 lakh.”

In the unfortunate event of death, the nominee receives a payout of around Rs 20-25 lakh. “This insurance wasn’t there before. Akshay Kumar not only advocated for it but also helped fund it. He knows first-hand what stuntmen go through.”

How to become a licenced stunt professional in Bollywood?

Joining the Movie Stunt Artists Association isn’t as simple as walking onto a set. Dahiya explains that aspirants must be trained in martial arts and undergo a test conducted by a panel of senior action directors. “After passing, the individual is given a stunt ID card and officially registered. There’s a membership fee of around Rs 3.5 lakh, which is refundable at the time of retirement,” he says.

The association includes everyone from stunt coordinators to action directors, with different fee structures depending on the role.

What’s the riskiest stunt?

“There’s risk in every type of stunt,” Dahiya says matter-of-factly. “Fire, explosions, car flips, high falls, underwater sequences – it all carries risk. Even falling from a table can cause injury if your foot lands incorrectly.”

Dahiya stresses that every stunt is treated with care. “Before every dangerous shot, we rehearse, use dummies, and try to estimate how much damage may happen. But it’s still real. Nothing is fake.”

Dahiya takes pride in his record. “In 11–12 years as an action director, I’ve never had a major accident on set,” he says. “There have been minor injuries, twisted ankles or a broken finger, but never anything severe,” he adds.

He takes his responsibility seriously. “When someone comes to my set, I know their family is waiting for them. I don’t take risks lightly. I calculate everything before we shoot.”

Meanwhile, a police case has been registered against film director Pa Ranjith along with stunt actor Vinoth, Rajkamal of Neelam Productions, and vehicle owner Prabhakaran in stuntman Mohan Raj’s death case.