Bollywood stunt artists vie for more discipline in industry

Mumbai, Jun 3 (UNI) Bollywood Stunt Artists Association president says that right from Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan and Sunil Shetty, no star can ever claim they never use a body double.

''Every star uses one,'' said Mehta in a conversation with UNI.

''Only the ratio varies. Some do 10 per cent of their own stunts, while others do 90 per cent.'' The remuneration that body doubles receive, however, is a paltry Rs 2500 per shift, while the stars charge anything between Rs 2 crore to Rs 4 crore.

Suriya Bano Bodlaji has been a stunt artiste in Bollywood for the past 17 years and has been a body double for female superstars like Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Karishma Kapoor, Rekha, Raveena Tandon, Hema Malini, Shilpa Shetty, Priyanka Chopra, Rani Mukherjee, Reena Roy and Twinkle Khanna.

She says, ''Once when I was a body double for Rekha, I met with a serious accident. I was dragged on the road as a result of which the skin on my face was completely peeled off. I had to undergo plastic surgery. I have 17 stitches on my head and still have scars on my face.'' Suriya is the first lady who does glass breaks, jumps, stunts on motor bikes and more. She informs, ''Once, when I was a double for Madhuri, the horse kicked me real hard on my neck and I had to be admitted to the Nanavati Hospital. I had temporary amnesia, but I recovered fast, and eventually did the shot.'' ''Then, in the Madhuri-Sanjay Kapoor starrer ''Raja'', there were a lot of retakes as a result of which my knees were bruised and I had difficulty in walking.'' This work involves a lot of risk and daring.

During winters it is so difficult, our joints ache but yet we take painkillers and continue to work, she says.

What is it that draws people to this profession? Glamour, glory, Grandeour or financial contraints? Says Suriya, ''I started doing stunts after my daughter was born. I am a divorcee and I had to support my mother and daughter. I took up this job because I was financially weak.'' MORE UNI