📌 Key Points
- Hero doubles: Not their choice! Directors safeguard crores, avoid halts.
- Small injury means crores lost, film halts for months! Director explains.
- Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad: Director VOWS no body double needed for PK!
- End double blame on heroes! Producers dictate for huge financial safety.
Director Harish Shankar recently tackled the trending debate surrounding body doubles in big hero films, a topic often fuelling memes and fan discussions. Promoting Power Star Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagath Singh, Shankar offered candid insights into why stunt doubles are indispensable, aiming to clarify misconceptions and defend stars from common criticisms about performing every action sequence themselves.
Filming Risks Drive Double Decisions
Acclaimed director Harish Shankar recently addressed the widespread criticisms surrounding the frequent use of body doubles in heroes’ films. During promotions for Power Star Pawan Kalyan’s upcoming film, Ustaad Bhagath Singh, Harish Shankar spoke in an interview, explaining why body doubles are often used and clarifying misconceptions about heroes. Criticisms have frequently been leveled against heroes regarding their use of body doubles, particularly for action sequences. Memes often circulate on social media alleging that star heroes rely on stunt doubles, leading some fans and netizens to criticize them for not performing the action themselves.
Harish Shankar explained that even if heroes volunteer to perform dangerous stunts, producers and directors often advise against it due to the significant risk of injury. He stated, “Even if heroes volunteer to perform the stunts, if something were to suddenly happen, it would be a huge risk, wouldn’t it? What if the schedule gets halted? It’s an affair involving crores (of rupees), so many times, directors and producers themselves say, ‘No, sir’ (to the hero performing dangerous stunts).” He emphasized that film shooting is a very large-scale system involving hundreds of people and a substantial financial investment. Therefore, even a minor accident can bring the entire production to a halt. “It’s not about something drastic happening, but even a small leg fracture can halt shooting for approximately 3-4 months. That’s why no one has the right to blame heroes concerning body doubles,” Harish Shankar clarified, emphasizing that the decision to use body doubles for action scenes is often made by producers and directors, not solely by the hero, to prevent huge financial losses if filming stops.
Pawan Kalyan: No Double in Ustaad
However, Harish Shankar explicitly stated that there was no need for a body double for Pawan Kalyan in Ustaad Bhagath Singh. He assured audiences, “I mentioned that audiences can satisfactorily see Pawan Kalyan for 2 hours in a two-and-a-half-hour film. We haven’t used extensive computer graphics or action scenes that are impossible for humans to perform. If such sequences were present, I would have definitely used a body double.”
With these comments, Harish Shankar has somewhat answered the criticisms alleging that Pawan Kalyan used a double in Ustaad Bhagath Singh. His explanation reinforces that the use of body doubles is a strategic decision by producers and directors, considering the potential losses during film shooting, and not solely the hero’s choice. The film is gearing up for a worldwide release on March 19.
Looking Ahead
Harish Shankar’s candid revelations demystify the use of body doubles, framing it as a pragmatic industry choice. As Ustaad Bhagath Singh gears up for its March 19 release, fans can now appreciate the strategic foresight behind every scene. This transparency sets a new precedent, promising an unfiltered cinematic spectacle from the Power Star.
