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Action time for Bollywood

IT'S THE action that's binds Hollywood and Bollywood movies these days. Take the instance of the stuntman who lost his life in a car accident on the sets of the upcoming Batman. Bollywood action blockbusters

aren't any less risky for either the stuntmen or the actors.

Be it Cash, Kaafila, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Awarapan or Aap Ka Surroor, all the films mentioned have grabbed limelight because of their extraordinary action sequences. While Indian films get more action-packed with each passing release, we find out if the stuntman who risks bone and body during these scenes is covered for his dare devilry.

Ask Rashid Mehta, president of Movie Stunt Artistes Association, whether he is satisfied with the present scenario relating to stuntmen and he refuses instantly: "No, not at all! Today, filming action scenes is as risky as it used to be earlier."

In fact, Bollywood films (influenced by Hollywood) have turned even more action-packed making the task of stunt artists even more challenging. But as far as security for these artists is concerned it stands nowhere compared to the arrangements made by foreign filmmakers for their artists.

Agrees ace stuntman Habib Haji who has performed stunts in films like Dhoom and Main Hoon Na: Though producers and filmmakers are pouring huge amounts into the production of films, ironically enough only a few care for providing insurance cover to the stunt artists they hire.

Also, unlike Hollywood, there is no concept of security officers in Bollywood. There the action director has to convince the security officer about the safety of the stuntman before the shot. It's only after his clearance that the shot can be taken.

"Forget security officer, even something as basic as insurance isn't priority for our filmmakers or insurance companies." Says stunt director Allan Amin who has been in action on films like Mission Kashmir and Koi Mil Gaya: Though our association takes care that all the stunt artists are insured (for life and limb) the insurance companies insist on insuring only the final take.

They do not insure rehearsals (which is a huge drawback). While stunt artists hold filmmakers responsible for lack of security arrangements while shooting these scenes, filmmakers have their own explanations. Its not at all mandatory for a producer or a filmmaker to get the entire star cast insured before making any film which is full of stunt scenes. As far as my film Shootout at Lokhandwala is concerned the film was full of stunts but I didn't insure any of the actors. If a stunt scene is very risky, we advice actor to go in for a stunt artist but the final decision rests with the actor only, informs director Sanjay Gupta.

But the one filmmaker who prefers to insure all his projects is Rakesh Roshan. Says he: "I prefer shooting stunt scenes on my hero and for this I ensure foolproof security arrangements while filming. As most of the films are being shot overseas these days filmmakers also have to follow the norms of the country where they are shooting these scenes."

But insurance or not, filmmakers like Anil Sharma (who has The Hero, Gadar Ek Prem Katha and Elan-e-Jung to his credit) do not use stunt men, if it can be avoided: Frankly speaking, things have really changed these days. As a director, I would never prefer a duplicate or a stuntman for it adversely affects the originality of the film. Also, the security arrangements are so up to the mark that even actors want to do their own scenes.