As a response to the tragic on-set death of stunt coordinator SM Raju, actor Akshay Kumar has provided much-needed support to the stunt industry by organizing insurance plans for more than 650 stunt artists employed in India’s film industry. The campaign plans to offer financial protection to those who take risks with their lives to deliver high-octane action on screen.
Insurance for Health and Accidents
Akshay Kumar’s move comprises health and accident insurance for stuntpeople and women. All the covered persons under the plan are entitled to cashless medical treatment of up to ₹5.5 lakh. In case of an accidental death, the nominee will get a lump sum of around ₹20–25 lakh. The coverage is designed to ensure that the stunt professionals as well as their families are not left exposed in the event of getting injured or killed.
A Time-Honored Commitment
This is not the first time Akshay has backed the stunt community. In 2017, he partnered with celebrated heart surgeon Dr. Ramakanta Panda to introduce a similar insurance scheme that covered about 380 stunt artists in the beginning. Since then, he has gone on to fund and increase the cover himself over the years. With the recent widening of the cover, more than 650 stunt workers are being covered under the scheme, which is still being privately funded by Kumar, free from any studio or production house affiliation.
Stunt Work Still Falls Short of Wider Safety Net
Even after the insurance campaign, industry insiders point out that the profession still has no formal safety policies. Freelancing is the norm among most stunt professionals, who do not enjoy regular benefits or protections. Belonging to stunt organizations is also expensive, leaving many unable to afford group advantages. Daily pay can be small, given the dangerous nature of their jobs.
Call for Industry-Wide Reform
Industry stakeholders have welcomed Akshay Kumar’s initiative but underlined that there needs to be change to the system. Working professionals such as action director Vikram Singh Dahiya have advocated improved enforcement of safety protocols and insurance cover to become a mandatory aspect on every film set, not a matter of individual choice. The latest accident with SM Raju has again sparked controversy regarding how much more the industry must take to protect its off-screen professionals.
Kumar’s gesture is being viewed as generous and much-needed—but also as a reminder that Bollywood has a long way to go in safeguarding those who risk their lives for the sake of entertaining millions.
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