'Sunny Deol was dragged by the bike for some distance while Amrish Puri nearly lost an eye,' Guddu Dhanoa recalls dangerous stunt mishap on Jaal set

Sunny Deol has performed numerous high-octane action sequences in his four-decade-long career, but some have come with unexpected dangers. Filmmaker Guddu Dhanoa, known for directing action-packed films like Ziddi, Salaakhen, and Jaal, recently recalled a terrifying accident during the filming of Jaal (2003) that left both Sunny Deol and veteran actor Amrish Puri injured.

The motorcycle mishap in Manali

Dhanoa shared that the mishap occurred while filming a motorcycle stunt in Manali. Recounting the incident in an interview with Friday Talkies, he said, “We were shooting a motorcycle sequence in Manali. To shoot such scenes, we often fix a machine in the motorcycle so that the actor can focus on his dialogues and doesn’t have to ride the bike. During the scene, the motorcycle went down. Due to this, Amrish ji fell on the ground, while Sunny was dragged by the bike for some distance.”

The impact was severe, and Dhanoa immediately rushed to check on the actors. “I rushed to Sunny and asked him if he was alright. He said, ‘I am okay. Please go check on Amrish ji.’ I went to Amrish sir and saw him lying on the ground. His eyes were completely damaged.” The filmmaker, who shared a close bond with Puri, immediately took him to an army hospital in Manali for emergency medical attention.

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A deep bond with Amrish Puri

Expressing his deep respect for the late actor, Dhanoa recalled, “I had formed a relationship with Amrish ji as he guided me since my first film as a director. We were more like father and son. I didn’t have the courage to go see him after that accident. His eyes had bandages over them. When I went to him, I held his hands. And as soon as I held his hands, he recognised me and said, ‘Guddu, everything will be alright.’”

Despite the risks and the dedication put into the film, Jaal failed to make a mark at the box office, leaving Dhanoa disheartened. However, the experience remains a testament to the commitment of actors like Sunny Deol and Amrish Puri, who put their bodies on the line to entertain audiences.