From exciting car chases to thrilling fight sequences, we’ve seen our stars do it all, but there’s a lot more than what meets the eye.
Although injuries and accidents on film sets are not unknown, the recent spate of injuries to Tollywood actors reiterates the amount of effort they put in to make their roles look convincing as also the risks involved.
Actor Naga Shaurya for instance, got badly hurt recently while shooting for an action sequence for his upcoming film, Ashwatthama in Visakhapatnam.
The actor slipped and fell down from a building slab while shooting for a chase scene, and suffered a ligament tear in his leg.
Stating that all this is for the love of the job, Shaurya says that injuries may put actors off the shoot temporarily, but the drive and adrenaline they possess to get the best out of a scene gives them a high.
“Yes, we know that we are living dangerously when shooting for risky action scenes. We can have a body double, but pulling off the scene ourselves is the real challenge. The gratification that an actor gets when a tough scene is appreciated is something inexplicable,” explains the Nartanasala actor, who adds that as actors, they leave no stone unturned.
“Nothing matters to us other than the fillip to entertain the audience constantly. That pushes us to do even more,” explains Shaurya.
Of course, as the saying goes, ‘With fame comes responsibility’. Given the advent of technology, several scenes can actually be done using CG to avoid injuries.
However, actor Sundeep Kishan, who could have lost his eye in a freak accident while shooting for a glass blast sequence on the sets of his upcoming film, states that actors enjoy great love and admiration for the kinds of things they do.
“The impact of whatever you shoot in real life is different. As actors, we enjoy performing daredevil acts and it’s fun shooting for them. Injuries are a part of our jobs,” shares Sundeep.
Admitting that the accident was a lucky escape, the actor further states, “It is emotionally draining to be lying down and not shooting. We are passionate about acting and it is frustrating when you look back in retrospect. But no matter how many safety precautions we take, sometimes mishaps do happen.”
Ram Charan
In their quest to present themselves differently with each film, actors often pick up a new art or an adventure sport for their roles.
Sharwanand, who picked up sky diving in Thailand for his part in his forthcoming film, fractured his right shoulder bone while practicing the stunt on the sets recently. As the bone was broken in four to five places, the actor underwent a 11-hour lengthy and complicated surgery.
Actor Gopichand too suffered a serious injury while shooting an action sequence for his forthcoming film, Chanakya in Rajasthan. The actor fell down after a bike he was riding skid and suffered major injuries. Similarly, Ram Charan also sustained an injury while prepping up for his role in Rajamouli’s forthcoming film RRR.
Admitting that it is very painful, Charan states that they are always under pressure to deliver a superior performance.
“As actors, we are vulnerable to various risks since we do different kinds of things before shooting and on the sets too. But what ultimately matters to us is the audience appreciating our performance. Our passion for cinema remains the same and these injuries only make us come back stronger,” explains Charan.
