| GEO Entertainment | | Abhishek lying, says stunt double | Updated at: 1317 PST, Tuesday, June 22, 2010
 MUMBAI: Mani Ratnam’s Raavan may have opened to a tepid response from critics, but the film and its lead actor are creating enough controversies to keep it in the news.
It turns out that Abhishek Bachchan’s claims of having done the death-defying stunt in Raavan could be one big lie. Bangalore-based diving champion, MS Balram, has claimed it was his work.
Balram, a former national diving champion, said that while he has the deepest regard for both Abhishek and Mani Ratnam and is proud of his own appearance in Raavan, he wanted to set the record straight. Abhishek’s breathtaking dive off a cliff into a raging river is part of the film’s first few scenes where he is built up as this tough, manic brigand. The scene works wonderfully and which is why Abhishek claiming credit has riled Balram.
During his media interactions for Raavan’s publicity, Abhishek spoke extensively about this stunt and how he went ahead and performed the 80-foot dive at the Hoggenakkal falls in Karnataka. “Though Mani Ratnam opposed it, I went ahead,” is what he had told a news agency.
When asked the news agency reporter confirmed Abhishek had claimed no double was used for the scene.
Balram is embarrassed that he has had to speak out about the claim. “I don’t want any publicity, nor do I want to create any controversy since I am a great fan of the Bachchans. Moreover, it is Mani Ratnam sir’s movie. I only want the movie to do well. But it is true that I performed this thrilling stunt for Abhishek and was paid for it. I feel proud to have done this stunt.”
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