DNA (July 31, 2018)

When Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff meet on the big screen, there are bound to be fireworks, especially because their first project together is an action-oriented one. Now, two acclaimed action choreographers have been roped in to design high-adrenaline sequences for the ambitious movie. The project, which is produced by Yash Raj Films, is being helmed by Siddharth Anand, who had last directed Bang Bang (2014), which starred Hrithik and Katrina Kaif.

EAST MEETS WEST
Siddharth says, “We want to push the benchmark of action movies that are made in our country. So, we are bringing two of the biggest action choreographers together to design some of the most outlandish and visually-spectacular sequences. On one hand, we have Andy Armstrong from Hollywood and on the other, we have SeaYoung Oh, who is an outstanding martial arts action choreographer from South Korea.” While Andy is the man behind the stunts in The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Charlie’s Angels and Planet Of the Apes; Mr Oh has worked on high-profile projects like Avengers: Age of Ultron.

LARGER-THAN-LIFE PREPARATIONS
The film will go on floors in September and wrap up by the end of next February. Speaking about tying up with the two action choreographers, Siddharth adds, “The best of the East is collaborating with the best of the West to bring to life sensational sequences. Expect larger-than-life, grand, gritty and raw action that will keep you at the edge of your seats.” The as-yet-untitled flick, which has Vaani Kapoor opposite Hrithik, will open in cinemas on October 2, 2019.


Andy R Armstrong and Mr Oh

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; July 11, 2014)

It has emerged that Vikas Sivaraman, cinematographer of Bang Bang, has gone on medical leave. As a result, the last schedule of the film will be shot by Sunil Patel, who earlier worked with Siddharth Anand on his film, Salaam Namaste (2005). But sources say that Vikas left the project because of stunt consultant Andy Armstrong’s highhanded behaviour. It seems that Andy was rude to the crew during an outdoor shoot in Abu Dhabi and this didn’t go down well with Vikas, who decided to leave the project.

When contacted, Vikas denied the story. He said, “I have a cyst and it was quite painful, so I took a break from the film’s shoot. Sunil Patel, who has worked with Siddharth earlier, is completing the film. And no, I never had a problem with Siddharth. But I did not like the behaviour of stunt consultant Andy Armstrong, who was rude to the entire crew. He behaved very badly with the unit.’’

But Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios says, “These are baseless allegations. Andy has done a fabulous job and the breathtaking action sequences that we will see in in the film are a testimony to the work that he put in. Yes, Vikas needed to have an urgent operation and could not continue with the project.”

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; February 7, 2014)

For his upcoming action thriller, Hrithik Roshan will have two body doubles help him pull off his stunts designed and choreographed by Andy Armstrong (The Amazing Spider-Man 2). One of them, Mansoor, regularly doubles up for the superstar. The other is a stunts specialist from Los Angeles. Roshan, who underwent brain surgery last July, is currently filming an extensive and dangerous rooftop chase sequence in a heavily populated area of Shimla.

Says a source, “Unlike rooftops in cities like Delhi, those in Shimla are sloped with the steep valley on one side. While Hrithik will do all the close-up scenes, the body doubles will be used for wide angle and long shots.”

When we spoke to our source on Thursday afternoon, the superstar was readying for his shot on the tin roof, about 40 feet off the ground, even though it had started snowing. The team is scheduled to wrap the rooftop chase this weekend and then head to Delhi for 12 days, to film a car-chase sequence.