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- Stuntman Raju Died during Shooting, Consern raised over Stuntman Safety, Akshay Kumar Himself Buy 650 Insuration for 650 Stuntman
2 hours agoAuthor: Amit Karna
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Stuntman Raju died in a tragic incident on the set of South’s well-known filmmaker P. Ranjit’s film Vetuvam. The incident has once again exposed the insecurity of these anonymous heroes who have been risky in the film industry. It is being told that South actor Vishal stuntman will bear the cost of Raju’s family for a lifetime, but the question is whether there is any social security for fighters from the stuntman’s organizations?
The situation in Bollywood is also similar where there is no facility from the association for fighters. Whereas to get work in the industry, fighters have to register in the association, which costs 3 lakh 60 thousand rupees. After spending such a huge amount, they get work, but their daily wages are just Rs 5790 per day. This situation shows how these artists work by risking their lives, but there is no system for their future and health protection. Since Kovid, Akshay Kumar is spending the premium of all 650 Bollywood health insurance. Due to this, every fighter has health coverage of up to Rs 6 lakh.
Deepak Rama Kunchikor, the stunt master of the team of famous action director Sunil Rodrigues, says, “There is no health insurance for stunt artists from the association. It is Akshay Kumar, who has done a mediclaim insurance of Rs 6 lakh for about 650-700 stunt artists on his initiative. Akshay Kumar has been paying its premium every year for the last 4-5 years, which started after Kovid.
Deepak Rama Kunchikor is a stuntmaster. He has done stunts sequences in many films.
Risk of life, minor remuneration and heavy card fee
Deepak said that a fighter (lowest level stunt artist) gets Rs 5,790 per day, while a body double gets Rs 14,000 and assistant gets Rs 8,500. The surprising thing is that in the Stunt Association, Rs 4 lakh has to be paid for making fighter cards and Rs 7 lakh for the master card. No one can work on the set without this card. Despite such a huge fee, no insurance or security cover is given by the association.
Chennai Express accident: Shah Rukh Khan and Rohit Shetty become Sahara
Deepak also referred to a horrific accident on the set of Chennai Express, where a stuntman was severely scorched by a fire during a car overturning. According to Deepak, Shah Rukh Khan got a complete treatment of the stuntman, which cost about 50 lakh rupees. Rohit Shetty also started making monthly payments to the stuntman, which has been going on for many years. Deepak said that in case of such accidents, some good-hearted producers or master help on their behalf, but there is no such rule or provision in the organization.
Government’s Ayushman Bharat Scheme and Stunt Artists Personal Security
When asked about the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Deepak said that he is a personal plan and every citizen can make his own card. It is clear that Bollywood stunt actors, who often put their lives exciting by putting their lives exciting, face an uncertain future, where their safety and health insurance responsibility depends on personal kindness or their own efforts.
In the case of stuntman’s safety, Movie Stunt Artist Association General Secretary Ejaz Gulab has raised many serious questions in a conversation with Dainik Bhaskar.
What is the relationship with the death of a card of ₹ 4 lakh?- Ejaz
Ejaz Gulab said that a stunt artist has to make an association card to get work, which costs up to ₹ 4 lakhs. However, he emphasized that this ₹ 4 lakh membership fees have no direct relation with the death of the artist. He said, “₹ 4 lakh he is filling a little for safety brother, he is filling to get work.”
Ejaz Gulab said- millions of workers are unorganized
When Ijaz was asked if the association takes such a huge amount from the stunt artists, whether they are given insurance or other security facilities, he said that it is a complex issue. He clarified that the rules of Mumbai and Chennai may vary, but the safety of Bollywood stunt artists is a major issue.
Gulab expressed disappointment that the Government of India has no concrete provision to protect the workers of the film industry. He said, “There are millions of workers in the film industry today, it is insured with all, absolutely unorganized.” He demanded the government to make the film industry an organized sector, so that the workers could get proper security and facilities.
Ejaz Gulab has reported that it was difficult to get insurance for a stunt artist. He said, “No company is ready to give insurance.” He thanked Akshay Kumar and Dr. Panda of the Asian Heart Institute for this noble work, whose efforts were made possible to insure stunt artists in collaboration with New India Assurance. Under this policy, a medicine of ₹ 6 lakh and a casual death coverage of ₹ 20 lakh is available. Akshay Kumar has been filling an annual premium of more than ₹ 1 crore for about 535 stunt artists since the last five years, since 2017. There are more than 650 stunt artists in the industry. Apart from 535, the remaining 65 plus is in the age category, while the insurance 535 only gets.
Responsibility of producers and government ignoring
Ejaz Gulab also stated that producers only insure their projects, but the personal safety of workers is taken less. He said that the cost of health and safety facilities on the set is a big factor, and if the government gives exemption on it, then the producers will also make this arrangement. He again questioned the government and said, “The mistake of the Government of India is that at least make us an organized sector, then we can do some work on it.” He also told that film workers neither get provident fund nor any facility of retirement.
On death of stuntman, he said- Heart attack died, investigation continues
Speaking on the case of stuntman Raju’s death, Ejaz Gulab said that it seems that the death occurred due to a heart attack. He said, “If there was a shortage of something, the ramp would have been broken or would have been broken before the car climbed … nothing like this happened.” When he was removed, he had already died due to a heart attack.
Gulab also demanded the government to allocate a proper place in Film City, where stunt artists could get training and certification under government supervision. This will also protect the producers and will ensure that only qualified and physically fit person is hazardous stunts.