Malavika Mohanan recently addressed the debate surrounding the use of body doubles for action scenes in her film, The Raja Saab. Sparking widespread amusement online, behind-the-scenes footage featuring a stunt double dressed in a pink crop top and shorts caught the audience’s attention. This led to a flurry of reactions on social media.
In her response on X, Malavika emphasized her passion for performing action sequences herself, while clarifying the role of stunt doubles in the filming process. She shared clips of herself engaging in action scenes and noted that a stunt double is typically present on set, regardless of whether actors are performing their own stunts.
She elaborated, explaining that she enjoys the physical challenges of action work, having been involved in sports since childhood. On set, stunt doubles rehearse the action scenes because of their expertise, and they sometimes execute complex shots deemed too risky for actors. Malavika expressed her gratitude for her stunt double, who assisted her in effectively executing the scenes.
The Raja Saab debuted in theaters on January 9, receiving a mixed reception. Despite a production budget of ₹400 crore, the film’s total worldwide earnings reached only ₹205 crore. Filming began in 2022 and concluded just two months prior to the release. The cast includes Prabhas, Zarina Wahab, Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar. Currently, the film is available for streaming on JioHotstar.