In July 2025, the tragic death of stuntman SM Raju on the set of the Tamil film Vettuvam reignited fierce debate over stunt safety in the film industry. Stunt performers, coordinators, and stars like Akshay Kumar, who advocates for better protections, are at the heart of the discussion. Raju’s fatal car-toppling stunt accident, alongside injuries like Andy Pilgrim’s on Game of Thrones, highlights ongoing risks. From Bollywood’s Mumbai sets to Hollywood’s Mission: Impossible shoots, safety gaps persist globally.Raju’s death on July 13, 2025, followed high-profile incidents like Tom Cruise’s 2017 Fallout ankle injury. Lax regulations, last-minute stunt changes, and inadequate reporting fuel dangers
A Risky Profession Under Scrutiny
Stunt work, vital for blockbusters like Coolie or House of the Dragon, is inherently perilous. Raju’s accident, where a car flipped uncontrollably, led to a police case against director Pa Ranjith and others. Similarly, Game of Thrones stuntman Andy Pilgrim’s 2014 ankle fracture, revealed in 2025 via leaked footage, resulted in a £500,000 settlement, echoing Casey Michaels’ $9.6 million payout for a 2018 injury. An Medicalxpress study notes stunt performers often hide head trauma to avoid blacklisting, worsening long-term damage.
The Human Toll and Industry Response
Imagine Raju, a seasoned stuntman, trusting a ramp setup only to face fatal miscalculations. Or Pilgrim, enduring a career-altering injury due to an altered stunt. Akshay Kumar’s 2017 initiative insuring 650 Bollywood stunt professionals for up to ₹5.5 lakh in medical costs and ₹20 lakh for families in case of death is a beacon of progress. Yet, El País reports no specific global regulations protect stunt performers, leaving them reliant on general labor laws and production insurance often obscured by NDAs. Fans like Priya on X praise Akshay’s efforts but demand stricter oversight.
A Call for Change
While Bollywood advances with insurance, Hollywood lags, with Flowjournal noting unreported injuries like Dayna Grant’s on an Amazon set. A 2025 IBTimes report says 60% of high-budget films face stunt injury claims, often settled confidentially to shield studios. The 2028 Oscars will honor stunt work, but Newsminimalist flags ongoing issues like coordinators accepting gifts, hinting at conflicts of interest. With CGI reducing some risks, the industry faces a choice: enforce rigorous safety protocols or risk more lives. Will Raju’s tragedy spark reform or remain a grim footnote? The debate rages on.
-By Manoj H