Akshay Kumar provides insurance to over 650 stunt workers after SM Raju’s death

Netizens express disappointment in film industry

While his kind gesture is being appreciated, many are questioning the ethics of Hindi film industry.

A user shared the Akshay Kumar news on Reddit, prompting many responses. A user wrote, “While a great gesture from Akshay, why the heck is an illustrious industry as Bollywood not already providing them insurance is the bigger question! ”

Other comment read, “Wonderful gesture. Every person working on the film set should be insured – not just stunt crew.”

ALSO READ | Baahubali stunt coordinator Lee Whittaker opens up on death of stuntman on Pa Ranjith’s film set: ‘If there’s not enough funds with production…’

Hollywood stuntman criticises lack of safety

Earlier, speaking to SCREEN, American action choreographer Lee Wittaker expressed his disappointment in the lack of safety on film sets. He stated, “No one should die doing a stunt. Safety precautions have to meet high standards for the safety of the performer and the crew. If there isn’t then the stunt should never happen. If there’s not enough funds with production, the stunt should never happen.”

Whittaker has also worked in several Indian projects like Vishwaroopam, Linga, Kaadu, Baahubali and Thugs of Hindostan, among others.

Soon after SM Raj’s death, Pa Ranjith took to his X handle and said, “A day that started out with detailed planning, caution, clarity in execution, prayers and all our goodwill, as it does on every film set that stages crash sequences, ended up in his unexpected death. This has sent us all into shock and heartbreak.”

Pa Ranjith says he followed safety protocols

He claimed to have followed every protocol on set to maintain safety. He shared, “We relied on the expertise of our stunt director Dilip Subbarayan and followed every protocol, every detail that was needed to make this safe. That in spite of all of our preparations and precautions, we ended up losing a man who had unparalleled experience and achievements, who made his family, colleagues and directors proud with the quality of his work that has affected us deeply. He will have our respect, love and adoration always.”

Case filed against Pa Ranjith and team

In another development, the filmmaker has been booked for SM Raj’s death. Along with Pa Ranjith, Neelam Productions executive Rajkamal, stunt artiste Vinoth, and the owner of the car Prabhakar have also been booked for the incident. They are booked under three sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 106(1), Section 289, and Section 125.

Just last year, around the same time, another stuntman named Eluumalai died on the sets of Karthi and director PS Mithran’s Sardar 2. The incident took place on July 16, 2024. According to India Today, the stuntman fell from a rostrum of 20 feet high while shooting an action sequence for the film. However, it went unnoticed with not much changing over the year.