Mohanraj's fatal accident ignites insurance debate for stuntmen: Akshay Kumar and Suriya set examples for industry support — Deets here

Time of India

6 days ago

The recent incident of stuntman Mohanraj's death during a fight scene during the shooting of Pa. Ranjith's film Vettuvam has left the Tamil film industry in shock. In the wake of such a tragic incident, the debate over the safety and insurance of stunt performers, which has long been neglected in the film industry, has resurfaced.
Calls for mandatory insurance for them are growing in the film industry.
Financial struggles of stunt artists
Stunt artists are generally at the forefront of performing the most dangerous tasks in cinema. In this task, where a mere moment of error can cost lives, the protection and respect given to them, as well as the gratitude shown by the actors, are also criticized for not being financially adequate. Although leading actors including
Rajinikanth
and Kamal Haasan continue to show respect for them, there is a need to structure financial support for their families.
Stunt Silva reveals Suriya's kind gesture
In this context, famous stunt trainer Stunt Silva said in his interaction with Behindwoods that actor Suriya has been arranging insurance for stunt artists for the past 10 years through his Foundation, paying ₹10 lakh per year. He also said that this has now become the norm in many other companies. Similarly, Silva also praises the fact that he did not speak about this at any event, which shows his upright human nature.
Akshay Kumar extends support for stuntmen
It is worth noting that Mohanraj's death has not only affected Tamil cinema, but also other language film industries. In this situation, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has set up a medical insurance plan for more than 650 stunt artists in India. Reports suggest that the scheme will provide free medical services worth up to ₹5 lakh. This is expected to set an example for other industry leaders.