Renowned stunt artiste SM Raju tragically died on Sunday morning in Tamil Nadu while performing a high-risk car stunt for the Tamil film Vettuvan, directed by Pa Ranjith and starring Arya.
Chilling footage from the set showed Raju driving at high speed before the vehicle overturned violently, crumpling upon impact. Crew members rushed to pull him from the wreckage but he had already succumbed to his injuries. The accident left the film team in shock as a controlled sequence turned into a fatal mishap.
Actor Vishal, who had worked extensively with Raju, confirmed the news and shared an emotional tribute, pledging lifelong support to Raju’s bereaved family. “He was such a brave person… I will definitely be there for his family’s future,” Vishal wrote on social media.
Popular stunt choreographer Stunt Silva also mourned the loss, calling Raju “one of our great car jumping stunt artists.”
SM Raju was a respected figure in the Tamil film industry, known for executing countless dangerous stunts with precision over his career.
As of now, neither Arya nor director Pa Ranjith has issued an official statement about the incident.