Veteran stunt artist SM Raju, also known as Mohan Raj, lost his life on July 13 during the filming of a car-toppling sequence for the upcoming movie Vettuvan. The film, starring Tamil actor Arya and directed by Pa Ranjith, was being shot in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district when the tragedy occurred.
A chilling video of the accident, now widely circulated on social media, captures the horrifying moment when the stunt went awry. The footage shows an SUV, driven by Raju, speeding toward a ramp as part of a planned action sequence. The vehicle, intended to roll after a controlled crash, slammed violently on the ground causing grave injuries to Raju.
Stuntman Mohan Raj tragically passed away during a car stunt on the sets of Pa Ranjith’s #Vettuvam starring Arya. A sobering reminder that Indian cinema must prioritize stronger safety measures during action sequences.#PaRanjith pic.twitter.com/SajzLmQ3Pw
— MR . AK (@anandhumanoj666) July 14, 2025
Crew members, visibly shaken, rushed to the wreckage and pulled the 52-year-old stuntman from the mangled vehicle, only to find him unconscious. Raju, a native of Kanchipuram district, was rushed to Nagapattinam Government Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
SM Raju was a seasoned professional in Kollywood, renowned for his daring and precise execution of stunts across numerous high-profile films. Actor Vishal, a long-time collaborator, was among the first to confirm the tragic news. As of now, neither Arya nor director Pa Ranjith has issued a public statement regarding the incident. Filming for Vettuvan, a multi-starrer featuring Sobhita Dhulipala, Attakathi Dinesh, Kalaiyarasan, and Lingesh, has been suspended, and an official investigation is reportedly underway to determine the cause of the accident.
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So difficult to digest the fact that stunt artist Raju passed away while doin a car toppling sequence for jammy @arya_offl and @beemji Ranjith’s film this morning. Hav known Raju for so many years and he has performed so many risky stunts in my films time and time again as he is…
— Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) July 13, 2025
“So difficult to digest the fact that stunt artist Raju passed away while doing a car toppling sequence for jammy @arya_offl and @beemji Ranjith’s film this morning. Have known Raju for so many years and he has performed so many risky stunts in my films time and time again as he is such a brave person,” Vishal wrote on X. He has also promised to support Raju’s family.
Stunt choreographer Stunt Silva also mourned the loss. In an Instagram post, Silva wrote, “One of our great car jumping stunt artists, S M Raju, died today while doing car stunts. Our stunt union and Indian film industry will be missing him.”
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(Image: X)