From Priyanka’s Boldness to SRK’s Boundaries: Stuntwoman Sanober Pardiwala Lifts the Veil on Superstars

From doubling for Kareena Kapoor Khan and Katrina Kaif to earning Shah Rukh Khan’s trust on 'Dunki,' veteran stuntwoman Sanober Pardiwala has been part of some of Bollywood’s action films and performed stunts in them. As she works with Kareena again on 'Daayra,' Pardiwala talks about the unseen preparation behind actors doing their “own stunts”, the risks involved, and why years of professional training cannot be replaced by a few minutes of practice.

You have worked with Kareena Kapoor on several films. What did you do for her in Daayra?

I have done a lot of stunt work for Kareena. I started with films like "Tashan" and "3 Idiots", and it just continued from there. For Daayra, I did a lot of car-driving sequences for Kareena, along with some action sequences. I did a little work on "Laal Singh Chaddha" as well.

How has the world of stunts changed over the years, particularly for women?

It is not only about women. Overall, CGI and visual effects have taken over a lot. But work for stunt artists still exists because there are certain stunts that need to be performed for real and need to look a particular way on screen. It also depends on the genre and requirements of a film. Sometimes a film may not be an action film, but still have plenty of action. Take "Delhi Belly", for instance. There was running, falling, chasing, kidnapping and people getting shot. All of that falls under action.

Is stunt work a dependable profession for young women wanting to enter the industry?

It is not a sure-shot profession in terms of regular work. It is freelance. Sometimes you may have several projects and sometimes you may have none. I have always said you need an alternative career alongside stunt work. Nothing much has changed in that respect. This isn't a nine-to-five job where you report to an office every day. It is project-wise, shoot-wise and location-wise.

We often hear actors saying that they perform their own stunts. What actually happens behind the scenes?

I think people need to understand the concept behind an actor doing their own stunt. The entire stunt is rehearsed and tailored by stunt professionals before the actor even steps in to perform it. Before an actor can perform a stunt, a stunt artist has already performed and rehearsed it at least 10 to 20 times. We make sure it is correct and safe. We work out the camera angle, lighting and the action itself. We figure out how a two-foot jump can look like a five-foot jump on camera. There are so many calculations involved.

Is using a stunt double also about an actor's availability?

Absolutely. An actor's time is extremely important. A production has to decide whether it wants an actor for a wide shot where you may not even see their face or whether that time should be used for close-ups and scenes where the actor's performance is required. From a producer's perspective, every hour and every rupee counts. These are production decisions as well.

You have worked with some of Bollywood's biggest stars. Who would you say is particularly fearless when it comes to action?

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.

You have also worked with Shah Rukh Khan for years. What has that experience been like?

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. 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. He also has very good spatial awareness and understands risks. He knows his limits and knows how far he can push himself.

Has there ever been a moment when you felt Shah Rukh was pushing himself too far?

No. He is very wise about these things. He understands what he can do and what he can't. Aishwarya is also very wise in that respect. She understands her physical capacity. Actors like them understand that an actor's job is to act, and a stuntwoman's job is to perform stunts. Filmmaking is a collective effort. Everyone has their expertise.

But some actors insist on performing their own stunts. Does that worry you?

Sometimes actresses insist, saying, "Main khud hi kar sakti hoon." There is no doubt that you may be able to do something, but you haven't necessarily trained for it. A professional stunt performer has trained for years across multiple disciplines. I am a mixed martial artist. I know weapons and swords, I ride bikes and do car flips. You cannot replace years of experience, knowledge and skills with 20 minutes of hurried training. That is where people sometimes push themselves too far and get injured.

What has your experience with Katrina Kaif been like?

Katrina, with experience, I think she has become much wiser about her physical strengths and what is possible for her. I have done quite a few films with her, including “Jagga Jasoos” and “Bang Bang". During the latter, there were glass-breaking sequences, falls and several other stunts.

And Deepika Padukone.

I have worked with Deepika since "Lafangey Parindey". She is a very good performer. I have always found her extremely hardworking and dedicated.

Was working on "Mardaani" and "Dunki", challenging?

"Mardaani" was one of the tough ones. In "Dunki", there were fight sequences and underwater sequences, among other things. A lot of the work was also done by Taapsee herself. But again, before an actor performs a stunt, a stunt artist has already done it repeatedly to ensure that the final take can be performed correctly and, most importantly, safely.

How important is professional training for someone who wants to become a stunt woman?

It is extremely important. It makes me sad when people think, "I don't have any other work, so I'll do stunts and make some money." It doesn't work that way. I have seen people suffer serious injuries. I knew someone who injured her spine and was on bed rest for six months, without an income. You need proper training. You need spatial awareness, extremely sharp reflexes and control over both your mind and body.

Is there a specialized school where someone can train to become a stunt performer?

There isn't necessarily one specific training school because stunt work combines several disciplines. There are martial arts, gymnastics and other skills that sharpen your reflexes. You also need to understand the camera. You could perform a stunt perfectly, but if you don't know how to hide your face from the camera when you're doubling for an actor, the shot doesn't work.
When you jump, you have to control the jump, the landing, the fall and the roll. On screen, it might look as though the character has fallen and died. In reality, you need to finish that fall without getting hurt. That requires tremendous control over your body and mind.

Are stunt women paid well? Is there a gender pay gap?

We have a union that takes care of several things, including medical support and insurance. Akshay Kumar has also paid a significant premium towards mediclaim for stunt artists. As far as payment is concerned, I have my own professional fee and charge accordingly. Honestly, there is no gender pay gap in my case. I am paid significantly higher than men. So my personal experience is very different.

After spending so many years performing dangerous stunts, what is the one thing you would want aspiring stunt performers to understand?

Training and safety have to come first. You need sharp reflexes, spatial awareness and complete control over your body and mind. And because stunt work is project-based and unpredictable, I would also advise people entering the profession to build a parallel career.