What famous actors actually do their own stunts in movies?

Some actors really do go far beyond normal expectations with stunt work — sometimes to a ridiculous degree. Here are some of the most famous examples:

• Tom Cruise — Probably the modern gold standard for stunt-heavy acting.Hung off a real airplane in Mission: Impossible – Rogue NationClimbed the Burj Khalifa in Mission: Impossible – Ghost ProtocolDid a HALO jump for Mission: Impossible – FalloutLearned helicopter aerobatics for Mission: Impossible – Fallout
• Jackie Chan — Legendary for dangerous practical stunts.Often injured himself filmingDid elaborate fight choreography and falls without doublesThe clock tower fall in Project A is famous among stunt performers
• Keanu Reeves — Trains extensively and performs much of his action work.Heavy firearms and martial arts training for John WickKnown for long uninterrupted action takes because he can actually execute choreography
• Charlize TheronDid intense fight training for Atomic BlondePerformed many physical sequences herself despite injuries
• Buster Keaton — Silent-era insanity.Performed extremely dangerous practical gagsNearly got killed multiple timesThe collapsing house facade shot in Steamboat Bill, Jr. remains iconic
• Harrison FordDid many practical action scenes throughout the Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark series despite injuries and age
• Michelle YeohDid major martial arts and wire-work stunts in Hong Kong cinemaFamous for Police Story 3: Super Cop and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• Daniel CraigPerformed many physical Bond stunts in Casino Royale and later Bond films, often getting injured
• Sigourney WeaverDid demanding physical work in the Alien series long before action roles for women were common
• Arnold SchwarzeneggerPerformed many practical action scenes in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Predator

A few important caveats:

• Even these actors still use professional stunt doubles for the most dangerous shots.
• Modern productions have stricter insurance and safety rules than older films.
• Sometimes the “they did all their own stunts” reputation gets exaggerated by marketing.

But actors like Tom Cruise and Jackie Chan genuinely earned their reputations — stunt professionals themselves often talk about them with a mix of admiration and disbelief.

How much do Bollywood actors perform their own stunts?

 There are many current actors who tend to perform their stunts like Tiger Shroff, Hrithik, Akshay Kumar as safety measures have increased but despite the safety measures there are chances that a slight mistake can be dangerous.

Akshay will be performing many stunts including a helicopter stunt in his upcoming film Sooryawanshi which he had also done in Sabse Bada Khiladi climax scene where you can see him crossed leg, hanging upside down on the landing skid of the helicopter and lifting Mohnish Bhel (body double).

A few years later while shooting for Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, he injured his back when he lifted WWE wrestler Brain Lee who played an imposter version of The Undertaker. Bollywood fans think that it was the real Undertaker in the film but it is not so.

Akshay suffered slip disc and was on bed rest for weeks. Later he used to carry a cushion on the sets to support his back while sitting on plastic chairs.

Nowadays there are safety measures taken, still a slight mistake can lead to a major accident.

Actor Inder Kumar fell from a helicopter and was bed ridden for several years.

Today, actors avoid doing their stunts and even the filmmakers don't want to take risk as their investments can suffer.

Image(s) Courtesy: Google