SRK, Priyanka, Kareena take on risky stunts? The hidden risks actors face

Veteran stunt performer Sanober Pardiwalla has spent more than two decades working behind some of Bollywood's biggest stars, taking on physically demanding sequences as a stunt double and helping actors prepare for action scenes. Her latest work includes Daayra, in which she collaborated with Kareena Kapoor Khan.

In a recent conversation with Variety India, Pardiwalla spoke about the preparation required for stunt sequences, the risks involved and why professional stunt performers cannot simply be replaced by actors undertaking hurried training.

Pardiwalla said that while an actor may sometimes be capable of performing a particular stunt without extensive preparation, years of experience, technical knowledge and specialised skills remain crucial when dealing with dangerous sequences.

“There isn't any doubt that an individual might be able to do something without training. However, you cannot replace years of experience, knowledge and skills with 20 minutes of hurried training. That is where they hurt themselves,” she said.

What Sanober said about working with Shah Rukh Khan

Pardiwalla has worked with Shah Rukh Khan since Veer Zaara and was also involved in Dunki. She recalled the actor's ability to remember people he has worked with, describing him as knowledgeable and grounded.

“Shah Rukh is a wonderful person to work with. I have worked with SRK since Veer Zaara. He has a phenomenal memory. Even if I meet him after five years, he remembers my name and the work I have done. He is highly knowledgeable and a very grounded, down-to-earth human being,” she told Variety India.

She also spoke about the trust Khan placed in her while filming an underwater sequence for Dunki.

“I really respect him and value the trust he has in me. While we were doing the underwater sequence in Dunki, the level of trust he showed is something I cannot put into words. I am very grateful for that,” she said.

According to Pardiwalla, Khan also has strong spatial awareness and understands the risks involved in action sequences. When asked whether she had ever felt that he was pushing himself too far, she said he was “very wise” about such decisions and understood what he could and could not do.

Pardiwalla has previously spoken about the responsibility involved in performing stunts alongside Khan. In an earlier interview, she said that while working with him on Dunki, her priority was ensuring that the lead actor remained safe.

From Priyanka Chopra to Kareena Kapoor Khan

Pardiwalla has also worked closely with Priyanka Chopra, including as her body double in Gunday. She described Chopra as bold and confident while also being conscious of her limitations.

“Priyanka Chopra is bold and bindass, but she is also very practical. She knows her limits and boundaries. She understands how much she should push herself and when it isn't worth doing so. She knows when to let a professional do her job,” Pardiwalla said.

Her association with Kareena Kapoor Khan stretches back several films. She said she began working with the actor on Tashan and 3 Idiots, before continuing to collaborate on subsequent projects.

For Daayra, Pardiwalla performed a substantial amount of car-driving work for Kareena, in addition to some action sequences. She also worked on Laal Singh Chaddha.

Her professional credits include stunt-double work for several leading actresses, including Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Her filmography also includes Dhoom 2, Raavan, Bang Bang and Shamshera. IMDb currently lists her as the stunt double for Kareena Kapoor Khan in Daayra.

A career built on martial arts and high-risk stunts

Pardiwalla began training in martial arts at a young age and has developed expertise in several disciplines. Her professional portfolio says she was a competitive gymnast, advanced swimmer and trained martial artist by the age of 12, later adding disciplines including Muay Thai, boxing, kick-boxing, Krav Maga, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Kung Fu training at the Shaolin Temple in China.

Her stunt work covers high-speed car and motorcycle driving, aerial cable work, fire stunts, underwater sequences, weapons handling, skydiving, paragliding and deep-sea diving. Her professional portfolio says she has worked across more than 194 films, television productions, live-action shows and international commercial projects.

Other published profiles have described her as having worked on more than 200 films, shows and commercials. She has performed stunts for actresses including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and Sonakshi Sinha.

One of her most notable sequences came in Mani Ratnam's Raavan, where she doubled for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in a dangerous cliff and waterfall sequence. She received a Taurus World Stunt Awards nomination for the feat.

Pardiwalla has also spoken about the importance of safety in stunt work. She has said that she checks equipment such as harnesses and cables and has turned down assignments when safety standards were inadequate. Her work has included sea dives, fire sequences and vehicle crashes, highlighting the physical and technical demands of the profession.

Her career has therefore involved not only executing dangerous sequences but also understanding when an actor should perform a stunt and when a trained professional should take over. That distinction, she suggested in her latest comments, is crucial because physical ability alone cannot substitute for years of specialised stunt training and experience.