Updated on: 23 October, 2026 12:39 PM IST |Kavya Agarwal
Behind every jaw-dropping action sequence lies a world of intense physical training, extraordinary discipline and remarkable courage. From leaping across rooftops to executing high-intensity combat sequences, Bollywood action heroes have often left audiences wondering how they manage such extraordinary physical feats. But do you know that certain actors take their dedication a step further by performing their own stunts? For some actors, fitness isnt simply about looking good in front of the camera; its about preparing their bodies to handle physically demanding performances. Here are six Bollywood stars who have turned their passion for fitness into a powerful asset while performing their own stunts!
John Abraham
John Abraham is known in Bollywood for performing many of his own high-risk action and motorcycle stunts without body doubles. During the shoot of "Force", he performed gravity-defying action sequences without protective cables, including jumping 150 feet onto an air bag and physically lifting and throwing a 150 kg motorcycle. He also insisted on climbing the hot black rocks of Malshej Ghat for the climax fight after suffering a train sequence fall. During the movie "New York", John voluntarily scaled down a 46-floor building with a single rope, turning down the arranged stunt double. As for "Force 2", the actor continued performing intense action sequences in Budapest, Hong Kong, and Bangkok despite suffering a severe burst knee that required three surgeries. During the shoot of "Dhoom", Abraham rode and handled major bike sequences himself (such as with the Suzuki Hayabusa), though specific hazardous leaps like the train-to-train jump were handled by a stunt professional.
John Abraham is known in Bollywood for performing many of his own high-risk action and motorcycle stunts without body doubles. During the shoot of "Force", he performed gravity-defying action sequences without protective cables, including jumping 150 feet onto an air bag and physically lifting and throwing a 150 kg motorcycle. He also insisted on climbing the hot black rocks of Malshej Ghat for the climax fight after suffering a train sequence fall. During the movie "New York", John voluntarily scaled down a 46-floor building with a single rope, turning down the arranged stunt double. As for "Force 2", the actor continued performing intense action sequences in Budapest, Hong Kong, and Bangkok despite suffering a severe burst knee that required three surgeries. During the shoot of "Dhoom", Abraham rode and handled major bike sequences himself (such as with the Suzuki Hayabusa), though specific hazardous leaps like the train-to-train jump were handled by a stunt professional.
Tiger Shroff
Tiger Shroff is a well-known Bollywood action star who performs the vast majority of his own stunts rather than relying on body doubles. For the unversed, he holds a black belt in Taekwondo and has trained extensively in gymnastics, martial arts, and acrobatics since childhood. He regularly executes high-flying kicks, mid-air 360-degree somersaults, corkscrews, and back-flips on set. He often chooses to perform complex movements and flips without harnesses because of his physical conditioning and background as a gymnast. In the movie "A Flying Jatt" he jumped through flames to rescue people in a fire scene instead of using a body double. For the movie "Baaghi", "War" and "Ganapath", he's known for extensive hand-to-hand combat, high-speed chases, and aerial flips.
Tiger Shroff is a well-known Bollywood action star who performs the vast majority of his own stunts rather than relying on body doubles. For the unversed, he holds a black belt in Taekwondo and has trained extensively in gymnastics, martial arts, and acrobatics since childhood. He regularly executes high-flying kicks, mid-air 360-degree somersaults, corkscrews, and back-flips on set. He often chooses to perform complex movements and flips without harnesses because of his physical conditioning and background as a gymnast. In the movie "A Flying Jatt" he jumped through flames to rescue people in a fire scene instead of using a body double. For the movie "Baaghi", "War" and "Ganapath", he's known for extensive hand-to-hand combat, high-speed chases, and aerial flips.
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar performed his most famous real stunt in the 2000 film "Khiladi 420", where he caught a moving plane on the runway, climbed to the top of the aircraft while it was in flight at roughly 1,000 feet, and then jumped from the plane onto a hot-air balloon without a body double or green screen. In the movie Angaaray", he leaped across a dangerous gap from the seventh floor of one building to the fourth floor of another. As for "Sooryavanshi", he hung directly from a moving helicopter mid-air without digital effects for the climax sequence.
Akshay Kumar performed his most famous real stunt in the 2000 film "Khiladi 420", where he caught a moving plane on the runway, climbed to the top of the aircraft while it was in flight at roughly 1,000 feet, and then jumped from the plane onto a hot-air balloon without a body double or green screen. In the movie Angaaray", he leaped across a dangerous gap from the seventh floor of one building to the fourth floor of another. As for "Sooryavanshi", he hung directly from a moving helicopter mid-air without digital effects for the climax sequence.
Shah Rukh Khan
King Khan performs many of his own stunts, though he relies on trained stunt doubles and visual effects for high-risk or complex sequences. During the shoot of "Koyla", he ran across railway tracks with his body on fire without a body double. For "Duplicate", SRK jumped 30 to 40 feet from the second floor of Mukesh Mills to fight himself in a double role. For "Don 2", he trained with stunt director Wolfgang Stegemann and performed a 300-foot building jump. During the shoot of "Chennai Express" and "Dilwale", SRK did his own car stunt driving, including 360-degree spins and handbrake turns, despite sustaining a shoulder injury. For the movie "Fan", SRK executed foot chases and action sequences across rooftops and urban settings while managing a knee injury. As for "Jawan", SRK performed physical action beats, including jumping onto a moving truck at age 57.
King Khan performs many of his own stunts, though he relies on trained stunt doubles and visual effects for high-risk or complex sequences. During the shoot of "Koyla", he ran across railway tracks with his body on fire without a body double. For "Duplicate", SRK jumped 30 to 40 feet from the second floor of Mukesh Mills to fight himself in a double role. For "Don 2", he trained with stunt director Wolfgang Stegemann and performed a 300-foot building jump. During the shoot of "Chennai Express" and "Dilwale", SRK did his own car stunt driving, including 360-degree spins and handbrake turns, despite sustaining a shoulder injury. For the movie "Fan", SRK executed foot chases and action sequences across rooftops and urban settings while managing a knee injury. As for "Jawan", SRK performed physical action beats, including jumping onto a moving truck at age 57.
Hrithik Roshan
Hrithik Roshan has a complicated and practical view on performing his own stunts: while he has executed high-risk action sequences in major blockbusters, he has openly stated that actors doing their own stunts is "stupid" and an ego trip that should be banned. "Bang Bang" was the major stunt that turned out to be life-threatening for him. While filming an action sequence in Phuket/Thailand, he wore a jet device on his feet, rose about 30 feet in the air, and banged his head when diving into the water. He initially dismissed the knock as a minor pain, but weeks later severe headaches developed. Scans revealed a subdural hematoma (an internal blood clot pressing against the brain). He underwent a successful burr hole brain surgery at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai in July 2013 and made a full recovery.
Hrithik Roshan has a complicated and practical view on performing his own stunts: while he has executed high-risk action sequences in major blockbusters, he has openly stated that actors doing their own stunts is "stupid" and an ego trip that should be banned. "Bang Bang" was the major stunt that turned out to be life-threatening for him. While filming an action sequence in Phuket/Thailand, he wore a jet device on his feet, rose about 30 feet in the air, and banged his head when diving into the water. He initially dismissed the knock as a minor pain, but weeks later severe headaches developed. Scans revealed a subdural hematoma (an internal blood clot pressing against the brain). He underwent a successful burr hole brain surgery at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai in July 2013 and made a full recovery.
Vidyut Jammwal
Vidyut Jammwal is widely known for performing his own high-octane stunts, action sequences, and physical feats without the use of body doubles, cables, or CGI. He's trained in the ancient Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu since the age of three, which forms the core of his flexibility, balance, and combat agility. He designs and executes his own sequences in films like the Commando series, Junglee, Sanak, and Crakk. Beyond cinema, he is famous for extreme physical training, such as manual truck-pulling, reverse hand pushups on glass bottles, and high-endurance breath control. As for his Hollywood Debut in "Street Fighter", he stars as the iconic yoga master Dhalsim in the live-action Street Fighter reboot, bringing his real martial arts and physical discipline to international cinema. During promotions for Street Fighter, he went viral for performing an extended open-eyed meditation, breath-control, and posture demonstration on stage.
Vidyut Jammwal is widely known for performing his own high-octane stunts, action sequences, and physical feats without the use of body doubles, cables, or CGI. He's trained in the ancient Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu since the age of three, which forms the core of his flexibility, balance, and combat agility. He designs and executes his own sequences in films like the Commando series, Junglee, Sanak, and Crakk. Beyond cinema, he is famous for extreme physical training, such as manual truck-pulling, reverse hand pushups on glass bottles, and high-endurance breath control. As for his Hollywood Debut in "Street Fighter", he stars as the iconic yoga master Dhalsim in the live-action Street Fighter reboot, bringing his real martial arts and physical discipline to international cinema. During promotions for Street Fighter, he went viral for performing an extended open-eyed meditation, breath-control, and posture demonstration on stage.
