The stunt community is mourning the tragic death of stuntman S.M. Raju, who died on July 13, 2025, while filming an action sequence for director Pa Ranjith's upcoming movie "Vettuvam". The 52-year-old stuntman, whose real name was Mohan Raj, was performing a high-risk car toppling stunt in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, when the accident occurred.
A video circulating on social media shows the SUV Raju was driving going over a ramp at high speed, losing balance, and violently toppling over. Crew members rushed to help, but he was declared dead at the hospital. Actor Vishal, who had worked with Raju on several films, confirmed the news and offered support to the stuntman's family.
Veteran stunt director Sham Kaushal expressed his sadness and shared his thoughts with NDTV after the incident. He called Raju's death "unfortunate" and a "big loss" for the stunt community and the film industry. Kaushal, known for his work in films like "Dunki," "Gadar 2," and "Ponniyin Selvan," emphasized the close-knit nature of stunt professionals. "I haven't worked with him, but stunt people are like a close-knit fraternity," Kaushal told PTI.
Kaushal explained the inherent risks of car stunts, describing them as a combination of human and machine. "When you do a stunt with a car, it's a combination of a human and a machine. In that case, if there's a misjudgment, then it can be dangerous. The nature of stunts is that they're risky," he stated. He added that while safety precautions are always taken, accidents can still happen. "When there's a 0.1 percent safety concern, the whole team monitors the situation thoroughly. Still, accidents happen," said Kaushal. He further added that despite taking full safety measures, such unfortunate incidents shake everyone.
Other members of the stunt community also mourned Raju's death. Aejaz Gulab, General Secretary of the Movie Stunt Artists Association, called the incident unfortunate, emphasizing the risks associated with car and motorcycle stunts. Stuntman Shankar, who was severely injured performing a car stunt on "Chennai Express," expressed his sadness, noting Raju's experience in car stunts.
Silva, a stuntman and actor, mourned Raju's death on X, saying that the stunt union and Indian film industry would miss him. Prithviraj Sukumaran offered his condolences on Instagram, acknowledging Raju's skill and contribution to the film.
Ram Shetty, a veteran stunt director, conveyed his condolences to Raju's family. "It's unfortunate that such instances happen where someone loses their life. I've never worked with him. My heart goes out to his family," he said.
S.M. Raju's death has cast a pall over the film industry, highlighting the dangers faced by stunt professionals.
