The recent death of stuntman SM Raju on the sets of director Pa Ranjith’s film Vettuvam has shocked the entire Indian film industry and brought the risky life of stuntmen once again into the spotlight. The 52-year-old Raju died while driving an SUV during the performance of a deadly action sequence in Vettuvam. The incident took place in Nagapattinam on July 13.
Raju’s death sparked a widespread debate on social media regarding the safety of stunt choreographers. Amidst this debate, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has come forward to provide insurance for around 650 stuntmen and stuntwomen across the country.
Senior stuntman Vikram Singh Dahiya, who worked on films like OMG 2, Jigra, Antim, Gunjan Saxena and others, has thanked Akshay Kumar for this kind gesture. This insurance policy covers cashless medical treatment ranging from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 5.5 lakh, irrespective of whether the injury occurs on set or off set.
People on social media appreciated Akshay’s gesture and opined that it is better late than never. They hoped to see many actors coming forward to support stuntmen and other technicians who risk their lives on film sets.
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