Ajay Devgn raring to return as an action director, after designing stunts in the last stint of Bhuj since original fight-master was unavailable
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 19, 2020)

As Bollywood is limping back to work, Ajay Devgn is eager to report to the set of Bhuj: The Pride of India. Reason — the Abhishek Dudhaiya-directed war drama sees him in the dual role of leading man and action director. In the previous schedule that was conducted only days before the Coronavirus lockdown was announced, Devgn found himself choreographing two elaborate fight sequences featuring Sanjay Dutt and him, after South stunt coordinator Peter Hein was unavailable.

Set during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, the ensemble drama sees Devgn essay the role of Indian Air Force (IAF) squadron leader Vijay Karnik, who reconstructed the IAF airbase in Bhuj with the help of 300 local women.

A source close to the film reveals, "The sequences come at a crucial juncture in the narrative. In the first set-piece, Ajay is seen attempting hand-to-hand combat as he fights the spies sent by the Pakistani army. The other segment, an outdoor shoot, has Sanjay Dutt and Sharad Kelkar take on the baddies. While Peter Hein has handled the remaining action scenes, he was not available in mid-March when these pieces were to be shot. Since producers Ginny Khanuja, Bhushan Kumar, Vajir Singh and Kumar Mangat Pathak had booked the Powai studio and got the combination dates of the concerned actors,they requested Ajay to take charge. Anyone who has worked with the actor has noticed his ex pertise in mounting a high-octane fight scene, like father Veeru Devgan."

Going forward, the team has about a week's shoot left, including a two-day stint with the leading man.

The film's spokesperson confirmed the news, stating, "It is true that Ajay designed the action sequence for the movie."

National Award-winning action director Peter Hein is working with units from Bulgaria and Vietnam on the stunts
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 24, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (July 10) that Ajay Devgn had joined Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi Sinha in Hyderabad to kick off Bhuj: The Pride of India, which is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Now, we have learnt that the makers have roped in National Award-winning action director Peter Hein, who joins the team in Gujarat for the second schedule.

“Filming begins today in the Mandvi district where a larger-than-life introductory scene with Ajay Devgn will be shot, followed by the action-packed finale featuring the actor who plays the central character. The shoot will continue for the next 20-25 days,” revealed a source close to the development.

In the Abhishek Dudhaiya directorial, Ajay’s character is modeled on Squadron Leader, Vijay Karnik, who was in-charge of the Bhuj airbase during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which remained operational despite heavy bombarding from Pakistan. Accompanied by 50 air force and 60 defence security personnel, he reconstructed the Indian Air Force airstrip with the help of 300 women from a nearby village. Sonakshi, who essays the role of a social worker, Sunderben, will join Ajay in Mandvi.

Action units from Bulgaria and Vietnam have been specially flown down to India for the climax. The war sequences are the highlight of the film and the team has gone all out to scale up the action. “Ample time was invested in designing stunts. Peter and his team have been at work for almost three months now. Even Ajay is involved in the process,” the source added.

The Bulgarian team had previously worked with Ajay in his directorial, the 2016 action thriller Shivaay, remembered for its lavishly-mounted fights. It was on his recommendation that the makers, Bhushan Kumar, Ginny Khanuja, Vajir Singh and Kumar Mangat Pathak, have got the Bulgarian stunt team on board.

The two overseas units will work with in sync with Peter who has big-budget extravaganzas like Race 2, Ghajini, Magadheera, Robot, the National Award-winning Pulimurugan and the Bahubali franchise to his credit.

Bhuj: The Pride of India also features Parineeti Chopra and Rana Daggubati, who play a spy and a Madras regiment Lieutenant Colonel respectively, while Punjabi singer-turnedactor, Ammy Virk is an Air Force pilot. Sanjay plays Ranchordas, a local.

After the Gujarat schedule, the team will move to Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bhopal and Indore over the next few months. The patchwork will be done on a set in Mumbai. The film is scheduled for an Independence Day release next year.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 11, 2014)

Deepika Padukone is one of the favourite leading ladies of B-Town but the actress fights like a superhero in her upcoming film Kochadaiiyaan. “I come from a family where sports is a must. We are very outdoor types. Doing my own stunts on screen is a dream situation for me,” she says. Deepika’s 10-minute stunt in Kochadaiiyaan has been choreographed by Peter Hein who did the stunts for Rajinikanth’s Robot.

Apparently, Rajinikanth personally requested Hein to make Deepika’s action sequences ‘super-hero style’.

Her stunts are described by the film’s co-producer K Murli Manohar as “never seen before action by a female star from any part of the world... on par with Uma Thurman’s Kill Bill and Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider.” Apparently, Deepika’s athletic background came into full play.

Director Soundarya Rajnikanth says, “It’s a fight with a lot of acrobatic action. Deepika had to go through continuous and swift movement through various locations at lightening speed. It’s like a car chase on feet. Peter has choreographed this sequence like he would have choreographed for any male hero.”