Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has made a big move to tackle long-standing safety issues in the film world by insuring the lives of about 650 stuntmen and stuntwomen working in India. This comes after the recent unfortunate death of stuntman SM Raju on the set of a Tamil movie, Vettuvam, directed by Pa Ranjith and starring actor Arya.
SM Raju’s Death Highlights Safety Gaps in Film Industry
The tragic accident brought to the forefront the safety regulations in the film industry. Realizing the void, Akshay’s new insurance policy offers health and accident cover for scores of action crew members.
Akshay Kumar’s Policy Offers Cashless Medical Coverage
Veteran stunt professional Vikram Singh Dahiya, known for his work in films like Gunjan Saxena, Antim, OMG 2, and the upcoming Dhadak 2 and Jigra, said, “Thanks to Akshay sir, around 650 to 700 stuntmen and action crew members in Bollywood are now covered under insurance. The policy includes cashless medical treatment up to ₹5 to ₹5.5 lakh, whether the injury occurs on or off set.”
In a shocking turn of events, experienced stunt artist SM Raju died after a stunt went terribly wrong on the sets of director Pa Ranjith’s upcoming movie.
Viral Video of Fatal Stunt Sparks Industry-Wide Alarm
The accident happened on 13 July, and a horrific video clip from the shoot has now appeared online, sending shockwaves and concern throughout the industry. The clip depicts Raju trying a high-risk stunt where a car is toppled over. When the vehicle went into the ramp, it lost balance, overturned several times in flight, and crashed head-on. It took some time for the crew to realize the seriousness of the smash. When they hasted to the vehicle, they discovered Raju badly hurt. Even though efforts were made immediately, he died on the spot due to his injuries.
