Prithviraj Sukumaran reveals why he avoids risky stunts: I have 3 titanium screws
Prithviraj Sukumaran said his 2023 stunt injury changed how he approaches action scenes in I, Nobody. He said the accident, and another injury on set, reminded him of the risks and responsibility involved.
Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran has opened up about the 2023 stunt accident that changed the way he approaches action sequences. Revealing that he now has three titanium screws in his left leg, the actor said the injury made him realise that a split-second mishap can affect not just him, but an entire film production.
Speaking to The Indian Express while promoting his latest crime thriller, I, Nobody, Prithviraj said he has become far more cautious about performing high-risk stunts, despite being known for doing his own action scenes.
Reflecting on the accident, he said, "In 2023, I was shooting for another film, and I have a reputation for doing action all by myself. I was doing a stunt sequence and I had an accident and I had a very complex injury on my left knee. I had to do three surgeries, and now I have three titanium screws in my left leg."
The actor said the consequences of the accident went far beyond his recovery. "That film had to be stalled for one year. So much money was lost, so many people had to just wait for one year. So now I carry that responsibility in my head," he added.
Prithviraj also recalled another on-set accident during the filming of I, Nobody, saying it reinforced the risks involved in action filmmaking. According to him, one of the stunt performers suffered a serious injury and required 37 stitches behind his neck.
"One of our fighters was injured on set, and he ended up getting 37 stitches behind his neck. These things happen. That's why I'm saying, imagine if I was doing that shot, and it happened to me. I would be going home for six months," he said.
Despite the life-altering injury, Prithviraj said he still enjoys shooting action sequences. He credited stunt coordinator Yannick Ben and his team for designing grounded, realistic action that demanded a lot from the cast while making every sequence feel authentic.
Speaking about I, Nobody, the actor said the crime thriller constantly shifts gears and keeps audiences guessing with its evolving narrative and action style. Directed by Nissam Basheer and written by Sameer Abdul, the film also stars Parvathy Thiruvothu, Hakkim Shahjahan, Ashokan and Vijayaraghavan. The film is currently running in theatres.