Gunmaaster G9’s recent climax shoot turned into a wake-up call for its makers as well as other productions, as far as risks involved in action sequences are concerned. On October 13, as leading man Emraan Hashmi was filming the climax — which included an SUV and a fleet of cars — in Bengaluru, the SUV came loose from its rigging and nearly crashed on the van that was passing by. Fortunately, Hashmi and others in the frame escaped without any injury. 

For Deepak Mukut, who is producing the Aditya Datt-directed venture, the episode has highlighted the responsibility that comes with mounting an action-heavy film and the importance of safety protocols. 

He told mid-day, “Action cinema demands a certain physicality and scale, and we want to bring that experience to the big screen. But our responsibility towards the people working on the film is equally important. The safety of our actors, technicians, and crew must always remain paramount. Every action sequence requires careful planning and coordination, and we take that responsibility seriously.”

The video leaked from the set showed crew members gathered around the set-up as a countdown was called for the shot, before the SUV came inches away from landing on the van. After the episode, we’re told Datt, Mukut, and the action team reviewed every arrangement on set.

A source said, “Following the incident, we are reinforcing the checks required before any such stunt is attempted. It includes checking all securing points and ensuring that the action team and crew are aligned on movement, positioning, and clearance zones. We want to get a sense of what additional precautions may be required before proceeding with similar shots.” 

Mukut added, “We double check every arrangement on set — from loose wires to all moving parts of a stunt. An action film [entails] bringing realism, energy, and intensity to the screen so that audiences feel immersed in the story. But realism on screen should never mean taking safety lightly.”