Stunt director and body double Geeta Tandon has publicly called out the production team of the Anil Kapoor-hosted reality show India Ke Top 1%, alleging that she and her son were made to wait nearly nine hours without basic courtesy, clear communication, or even an offer of tea or coffee. The incident took place on November 4, 2026, and Tandon detailed the experience in an eight-slide Instagram post that tagged Kapoor, filmmaker Farah Khan, and production company Banijay Asia. Both Kapoor and Khan responded in the comments, offering apologies and stressing their respect for Tandon’s decades of work in the industry.
Who Is Geeta Tandon?
Geeta Tandon is one of Bollywood’s most experienced stunt professionals, with a career spanning over 20 years. Born on August 25, 1986, in Mumbai to Punjabi parents, she has spoken in past interviews about escaping child marriage at 15, surviving domestic abuse, and leaving her husband at 20 to raise her two children as a single mother. She entered the film industry as a stunt performer and built a reputation for doing demanding action sequences, including fire stunts, high falls, and high-speed car chases.
Her body-double credits include Deepika Padukone in Chennai Express, Kareena Kapoor Khan in Udta Punjab, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Jazbaa, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Citadel: Honey Bunny. She has also worked on films such as Singham, Ra.One, and Sultan, and on the series The Family Man. Tandon became a familiar face to television audiences through her appearance on Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 5. Her son is also a stunt artist, and the India Ke Top 1% appearance was meant to be their first such outing together.
What Happened on the India Ke Top 1% Set
Tandon’s Instagram post, shared on November 4, opened with a line that set the tone for the entire account: “20 years in this industry. And yesterday, I was reminded how little respect people working behind the scenes are sometimes given.”
She explained that the production team had repeatedly approached her to appear as a guest on the show with her son. The appearance was unpaid, but she agreed because she believed it could offer some visibility for professionals who usually work behind the camera. To make the shoot possible, she gave up a day of work and called her son back from Goa specifically for the appearance.
Tandon said she reached the set at 12:30 PM and was told her segment would be filmed within a few hours. The wait stretched through the entire day.
“My son and I were made to sit in a tent, with barely anyone available to even ask for tea or coffee. No proper communication. No updates. No clarity about when we would be called. As the hours passed, I repeatedly tried to find out what was happening. All I heard was, ‘We’ll get back to you.’ But nobody did.”
In a follow-up conversation with Hindustan Times, Tandon added further details about the conditions that day. She said the management provided nothing, not even a cup of tea, and that she and her son had to order food and tea from outside for themselves. She also alleged that her phone was taken away from 5 PM to 9 PM, with the team citing protocol before the shoot, leaving her unable to communicate or follow updates.
“The basic courtesy was entirely missing throughout our long wait.”
When Tandon finally confronted the production team about the delay, she claims the response from a production manager named Jaydeep was dismissive: “If they want to leave, let them leave. But they can’t leave without signing.” Tandon questioned what she was being asked to sign and why she and her son should be made to feel they could not leave after waiting all day. She and her son eventually left the set at 9:15 PM, after nearly nine hours.
“I did not come there asking for a favour. Your team invited me. Your team repeatedly followed up with me. I gave you my time, my professional commitments and my son’s time, without asking for a single rupee. The least I expected was basic human dignity.”
Tandon made it clear in her post that she was not blaming Kapoor or Khan personally for the production team’s conduct. She tagged them because she wanted them to know what had happened to guests invited to the show. Her larger point was about how the industry treats people who work behind the camera.
“Being a celebrity should not determine how much respect someone deserves. The person standing behind the camera deserves the same dignity as the person standing in front of it.”
Anil Kapoor and Farah Khan Respond
Anil Kapoor, who hosts India Ke Top 1%, responded directly to Tandon’s post in the comments section. He expressed regret over her experience and apologised for the way she and her son were made to feel on set.
“Geeta ji, It genuinely saddens me to hear this. As the host, I always wanted everyone who was part of the show to feel welcome and respected. You and your son came as our guests. I’m sorry that your experience left you feeling otherwise. I’ve been in this industry long enough to know how much dignity and respect matter, and I would never want anyone to feel that they were treated with anything less. I take your feedback seriously and genuinely thank you for sharing it.”
Farah Khan, who was also shooting for the show that day as a guest, apologised separately. She explained that she was filming the second episode in the evening and had no idea Tandon was waiting on set.
“Geetaji apologies.. I had no idea you were there as I was shooting for the 2nd episode in the evening.. otherwise would have made you sit in my van, as would Anil if he knew.. we have tremendous respect for you and your hard work.”
Tandon thanked both Kapoor and Khan for their responses, saying their support meant a lot to her. She reiterated, however, that structural change and basic respect on set matter more than apologies that come after a post goes public. She noted that her post had drawn thousands of comments from technicians and junior artists who had faced similar experiences elsewhere.
Other Actors Speak Out
Tandon’s post also drew support from actors who have worked with her and recognised her contribution to the industry. Tillotama Shome shared a note recalling the physical risks Tandon has taken while performing stunts for actors.
“Dear Geeta, It’s been an absolute honour to work with you every time. Your spine has broken many times because you were carrying the weight on our behalf. Your dedication and sincerity is unparalleled!! You are not just a good stunt professional, you are a stellar human.”
Bhagyashree stressed that every person involved in filmmaking deserves equal respect, regardless of whether they work in front of or behind the camera.
“A film is made with equal contribution from everyone, in front of the camera and behind the scenes… No one deserves disrespect in any form. I am sure if they had told you the reason for delay, you would have tried to understand .. as we all know on sets, sometimes such delays do happen. But, I am glad your story has clarity about the entire incident… I hope the EP on the set takes this up strongly.”
Shriya Pilgaonkar also expressed her disappointment, writing, “I’m so sorry this is unacceptable.” Ayesha Shroff was among the other industry figures who backed Tandon.
What Is India Ke Top 1%?
India Ke Top 1% is an Indian Hindi-language reality game show hosted by Anil Kapoor. It is an adaptation of the British format The 1% Club, produced by Banijay Asia in association with BBC Studios UK. The show premiered on September 19, 2026, on Star Plus at 8 PM and streams on JioHotstar.
The format is built around logic, observation, pattern recognition, and common sense rather than textbook knowledge. 100 contestants compete across 13 rounds, each starting with ₹1 lakh. The amounts allocated to contestants who answer incorrectly are added to a collective prize pot that can go up to ₹1 crore. The final question is designed to be answered by only 1% of the country.
The show has already crowned three winners in its first six episodes. Bijal Shah became the first-ever winner on the premiere, taking home ₹94 lakh. Over 220,000 viewers have used the Play Along feature on JioHotstar, competing from home for smart TVs and smartphones. New episodes air every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM on Star Plus, with streaming available on JioHotstar.
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The Bigger Issue Geeta Tandon Raised
Tandon’s post was not framed as a personal grievance against two celebrities. It was written as a statement about how the industry treats technicians, stunt performers, junior artists, body doubles, and ordinary guests who are invited to appear on shows without commercial terms.
“I am sharing this not just for myself, but for every stunt professional, junior artist, body double, technician, background performer and ordinary guest who has ever been made to feel that their time is less valuable because they are not famous.”
She pointed out that agreeing to appear as a guest or without payment does not give production teams the licence to disregard an individual’s time and self-respect. The production coordinator who invited her later called to apologise, but Tandon said the management on set, which she holds responsible for the treatment, remained silent. She stated she will not return to the show.
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