Akshay Kumar offers insurance to 650 stunt professionals after on-set tragedy
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In response to the tragic death of stuntman SM Raju on the set of the Tamil film Vettuvam, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has stepped in to support India’s stunt community by providing health and accident insurance to around 650 stunt performers.
SM Raju lost his life during the filming of a high-speed action sequence in Tamil Nadu on July 13.
A video from the set shows Raju driving an SUV that hits a ramp, loses control mid-air, and crashes violently onto its front. Although he had no visible external injuries at the time, a post-mortem later revealed internal trauma and brain hemorrhaging.
Following the incident, the Nagapattinam police registered a case of negligence against director Pa Ranjith, assistant director Raj Kamal, vehicle owner Prakash, and shoot manager Vinodh.
A senior police official told NDTV, “The post-mortem clearly points to internal trauma and bleeding in the head. Based on preliminary investigation, we've filed a case of negligence.”
Known for performing his own daring stunts, Akshay Kumar took swift action to address safety concerns within the stunt community.
According to a veteran stunt professional, “Thanks to Akshay sir, around 650 to 700 stuntmen and action crew members in Bollywood are now covered under insurance. The policy includes cashless medical treatment up to ₹5 to ₹5.5 lakh, whether the injury occurs on or off set.”
This move has been welcomed by the industry, especially as stunt performers often work in high-risk environments without adequate protections.
