Stunt artists and choreographers should be accorded as much respect as actors at every award ceremony, actor Akshay Kumar said on Monday.
Introducing a special insurance scheme for all stunt artists working in the Hindi film industry, he said: “I am a stuntman first before an actor. For 10 years, I worked as a stuntman in Hindi film industry before getting the opportunity of acting. So I know how stuntmen risk their lives to earn their bread. I know what it takes to risk their lives to entertain us. So I think they should get equal respect even at the award shows for their work.”
The actor, along with cardiac surgeon Dr Ramakanta Panda of Asia Heart Institute, announced the insurance scheme that covers around 380 stunt artists between the age of 18 to 55 with a death compensation of Rs1 million (Dh56,808).
Emphasising the importance of the insurance, Panda said: “Akshay came to me saying how could he help these people who are doing stunts in films and get injured and need treatment. He asked me if I can reserve some beds for them.
“Since they work across the country, I thought insurance would be a better help. So we manage to collaborate with the insurance company to provide the facilities.”
Kumar recently bagged the Best Actor National Film Award for his performance in the crime thriller Rustom, loosely based on the commander K.M. Nanavati case.
Asked about criticism he faced after receiving the award, the actor said: “I have been working in the film industry for the last 25 years and I have noticed that every time whoever wins a National Award, the debate starts on who is deserving to win the award. I got it after 25 years. If you think I don’t deserve it, you can take it away.”
