22-07-2025
SRK-Deepika Padukone's Om Shanti Om Climax Had 100 People Inside A Set That Was On Fire
The interval block of Om Shanti Om – where Shah Rukh Khan's Om runs through a blazing film set to save Deepika Padukone's Shantipriya – remains one of the most unforgettable sequences in Hindi cinema. But while it lit up the screen, it left action director Sham Kaushal, father of Vicky Kaushal, breaking down in tears behind the scenes.
In a recent podcast chat with Aman Aujla, Sham spoke honestly about just how dangerous and overwhelming that shoot really was. 'There wasn't so much of VFX back in 2007. We had to light the fire on that set, where Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, three camerapersons, and 60 members of my unit were inside the set. So, there were around 100 people inside the set that was on fire," he recalled.
Calling it one of the most 'testing" moments of his long career, Sham admitted the tension on set was too much to handle at times. 'There were so many moments of stress because you also had to put off the fire within seconds of lighting it. If someone commits a mistake anywhere, it could be very disastrous. I swear by God, there were so many times I'd go to the side and cry. I felt I'd get a heart attack."
The shoot took place in Mumbai's Film City, and what added to Sham's anxiety was the sheer number of lives relying on him. 'Humans have little control over both fire and water. I get a little scared every time I do a stunt with fire or water. No one should get hurt because nothing is beyond safety," he said. He added that he sees every member of the crew as his own children and would pray to Lord Hanuman for everyone's safety.
The real challenge, according to Sham, is timing. The fire had to be lit and put out in a matter of seconds – and not just once. 'We had to light up the set four to five times a day while filming," he explained.
Years later, during the making of Dunki (2023), Sham found himself in a similar high-pressure situation, only this time it was personal. His son Vicky Kaushal had to perform a fire stunt in one of the film's scenes. Director Rajkumar Hirani also confirmed that Sham was under a lot of stress while filming that scene with his son. 'For example, in Dunki, there was a scene in which Vicky had to run with him on fire. It's just a matter of few seconds. Those who extinguish the fire are more committed than those who light it. Even if they burn their hands, they don't step back because they know how grave their job is," Sham said.
Even with decades of experience under his belt, it's clear that fire stunts still shake Sham Kaushal.
