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Akshay Kumar insured 650 stuntmen, calling himself “a stuntman first.” He launched the initiative in 2017 to ensure health and accident coverage for action crew members.
Akshay Kumar talks about insuring the lives of stuntmen.
In a heartfelt gesture, Akshay Kumar insured 650 stuntmen following the shocking news of the tragic death of stuntman SM Raju on the set of Pa Ranjith and Arya’s upcoming Tamil film. This gesture by the actor was received with open arms, with fans and industry people praising him. Now, Akshay Kumar has opened up about his decision to insure the stuntmen.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, the actor said, “I’m a stuntman first and an actor next,” and recounted how in 2017 he started financing the stuntmen quietly. The actor recalled that there was no such system of insurance for stuntmen, despite the incredibly dangerous nature of their job, which bothered him. Later, in collaboration with heart specialist Dr. Panda, Akshay—with permission from the stuntmen association—took the initiative and kickstarted an insurance scheme dedicated to stuntmen.
After Akshay insured the lives of about 650 to 700 stuntmen, veteran stunt professional Vikram Singh Dahiya, known for his work in films like Dhadak 2, Jigra, Gunjan Saxena, Antim, and OMG 2, expressed his appreciation for Akshay’s gesture.
“Thanks to Akshay sir, around 650 to 700 stuntmen and action crew members in Bollywood are now covered under insurance,” he said. “The policy includes both health and accident coverage. If a stunt performer is injured, whether on or off set, they can avail of cashless medical treatment up to ₹5 to ₹5.5 lakh.”
On the professional front, Akshay Kumar was last seen in Housefull 5. He is also reuniting with longtime collaborator Saif Ali Khan in Priyadarshan’s newly announced film Haiwaan. The director recently shared a photo of the two actors watching the India vs England Test match at Lord’s Cricket Stadium in London.
Akshay and Saif have previously worked together in hits like Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Yeh Dillagi, Aarzoo, Tu Chor Main Sipahi, and Keemat. They were last seen together in the 2008 action-comedy Tashan, also starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Anil Kapoor.
Akshay Kumar is also working on two more projects with Priyadarshan: Bhoot Bangla, a horror comedy, and the much-anticipated Hera Pheri 3.
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