Subhash K Jha (DNA; November 10, 2016)

An accident involving two actors Raghava Uday and Anil, which saw them drown to death while shooting an action sequence for a Kannada film near Bengaluru, has greatly disturbed John Abraham. “I take this pointless death of the two actors very personally. This accident is horrific, shameful and avoidable,” says John.

On Tuesday morning, he posted a video on a social networking site showing him with an injured foot in a hospital. Explains John, “After I heard about what happened to those poor unfortunate boys, I decided to post the video. I wanted people to see the pain that we actors have to go through when a stunt goes wrong. I wanted a record of the pain I went through for future reference.”

What John finds appalling is the negligence. “I believe one of those boys who drowned clearly told the producers he couldn’t swim properly. There was no proper permission for them to jump in the lake, no safety measures. I think the producers should be held culpable. These are human lives we are talking about. How can someone’s life be taken so lightly?”

He admits doing one’s own stunts is non-negotiable. “After I was laid up with a fractured leg while performing a stunt for Force 2 — I could’ve lost a leg — do you know what was the first I did after recovery? I had to kick in and break a door in Dishoom….with the same leg that I had injured.”

John feels action in our films need to be taken more seriously. “I don’t think stunts on our films can be taken lightly any longer. Today’s audience is educated in world cinema. They know when we are faking a stunt. Body double nahin chalega. Besides, in my case, looking at my size finding a body double would be rather tough.”

He pleads for action to be given its due status in our films. “We take risks with our lives. At least grant us the respect we deserve. When we actors injure ourselves, we almost lose our lives for two minutes of thrills, what do we get in return? An anxious producer wanting to know when we can return to shooting?”