Akshay Kumar critises stunt safety measures of Bollywood

Recently the “Khiladi” of Bollywood Akshay Kumar injured his foot while shooting for the tentatively titled Pistol. In an interview with the press, the super star deems safety standards for stunts in Bollywood to be insufficient compared to that of international standards. He talks about safety and precautions on the sets.   According to Akshay, when a stunt team is hired from abroad, it is apparent that the safety measures taken during Bollywood stunts are not up to international standards.    “I always check my harness before I do a stunt, I test-drive the cars I have to race or explode, I’m present at all pyrotechnical rehearsals and I walk through everything step-by-step. No man should put their life in someone else’s hands unless they have covered their own safety from all angles,” says Akshay. “Our films are advancing, but not to the point where actors are replaced by computer doubles, like in Hollywood films. Most of the time, the time to choreograph fight sequences in advance isn’t available. We tend to walk onto set, get told what to do and choose whether or not to do it. At times, we ask the stunt double to perform, purely for safety reasons. In the last five years, though, I’ve seen a change, and India has finally given safety more priority.   Of course I fear for my safety, but the trick is to never let fear control you. Your adrenaline helps keep you alive and stops you from making potentially life-threatening mistakes. The day I take either my body or my work for granted will be the day you hear that I’ve smashed every inch of myself to pieces. In nearly 25 years of doing stunts, I made my first real mistake recently. I’ve never felt more ashamed.   Always think twice before you decide to do anything for a film. It may seem like a career-changing idea, but think of your family and your future before doing anything risky. Train properly, because looking strong and being strong is two different things,” added Akshay.