The filmmaker reveals how a stunt gone wrong in 1980 haunted his family for years

Rohit Shetty, one of the most successful directors in Bollywood, is known for his action-packed films that feature high-octane stunts and explosions. However, behind his glamorous career lies a dark and painful past that shaped his life and personality.

In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Shetty shared the heartbreaking story of how his father, MB Shetty, who was a renowned stuntman and action director, died of guilt and alcoholism after a fatal accident on the sets of a film in 1980.

The film was Bombay 405 Miles, starring Shatrughan Sinha, Vinod Khanna and Zeenat Aman. MB Shetty was the action director of the film and had planned a stunt that involved Mansoor, the body double of Shatrughan Sinha, jumping from a godown that would explode. However, due to a miscommunication and chaos on the sets, the blast was triggered before Mansoor could escape and he was engulfed in flames. He died on the spot and the shot is still there in the film.

Shetty said that his father was devastated by the incident and blamed himself for Mansoor’s death. He said that his father had a good reputation among the workers and the fighters’ association and was very hardworking. But he could not cope with the guilt and started drinking heavily. He said that his father’s work suffered and he became a recluse. He died a year later, leaving behind his wife and two children.

Shetty said that he was reminded of his father’s tragedy when he faced a similar situation on the sets of his 2013 film Chennai Express, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. He said that he had planned a stunt that involved a car blasting and catching fire. He said that his team had removed the petrol tank of the car, but by mistake, some petrol had splashed on the chassis. He said that the car they were using was an imported car that had a reserve tank, which they did not know. He said that after the shot was over, they went to extinguish the fire, but a spark flew and the car caught fire again. He said that the driver, Shankar Anna, who used to work with his father, was still inside the car.

Shetty said that he panicked and ran to save him. He said that the car was in flames and upside down, so they could not get him out easily. He said that fortunately, there was a fire brigade on the sets, so they doused the fire, broke the glass and got him out. He said that his hands were slightly burnt, but he was fine. He said that it was a shocking incident that triggered the memory of his father’s accident and he took some time to gather himself. He said that he learned from his past mistakes and ensured strict safety protocols in his subsequent projects.

Shetty also praised his mother, Ratna, who was a stunt double for actresses like Hema Malini and Sridevi. He said that she was a fighter who raised him and his sister with dignity and courage. He said that she faced a lot of struggle and financial crunch, but never let them feel sad or hopeless. He said that she worked hard and was also into action. He said that she met his father on the sets of films like Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay.

Shetty said that he owes his success and fame to his parents, who taught him the value of hard work and honesty. He said that he is proud of his legacy and wants to carry it forward with his films.

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Shetty is currently working on his upcoming film Cirkus, which is a comedy based on Shakespeare’s play The Comedy of Errors. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Pooja Hegde and Varun Sharma. It is expected to release in 2024. He is also the host of the popular reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi, which features celebrities performing daring stunts.