Krrish Diary: The day after the accident By IndiaFM News Bureau, October 25, 2005 - 01:30 IST Hrithik Roshan was involved in a near-fatal accident at Lau Pasat Hawker Centre in Singapore on Friday 21 October 2005. He resumed filming almost immediately; no hospitalisation was required. We catch up with Hrithik on Robinson Road one day later on Robinson Road, a mere stone's throw from the scene of his horrendous accident.
Sealed Off?
The Singapore Police sealed off the road at 7am. No more public buses. No more taxis. No more cars. But the people kept coming. Coming to Robinson Road. First was the crew, which arrived shortly after seven in their chartered Singapore Zoo bus arranged by Singapore Tourism Board. Then came Hrithik Roshan in a big white van. Motorcycle police patrolled up and down the now deserted street, still in semi-darkness. A few pedestrians sitting at the bus stop were taken by surprise and politely shown to the alternate stop half-a-block away.
Out came the cameras, balancing weights, tracks, rollers, a wardrobe and costume rack, cases and containers, coolers and chairs, monitors and cables.
Director Rakesh Roshan and Assistant Director Raja surveyed the street from their makeshift set in front of the SIA building. People began to appear at the bus stop across the street again. These were the Extras. It was hard to tell because they looked and acted like they belonged there. Private cars were let through the barrier, enough to fill four lanes of opposing traffic on a formerly one-way street.
The Day belongs to Rakesh
This was Rakesh Roshan's road this weekend, to do what he pleased. A container truck maneuvered into position at the intersection of McCallum.
A large wind machine not unlike a mighty jet engine arrived and was quickly set up next to a large crane that everyone had been waiting for to arrive.
The star himself, Hrithik Roshan made his entry on the set and sat with his famous father and the key men of the day, stunt coordinator Tony Ching (House of Flying Daggers, Shaolin Soccer) from Hong Kong and visual effects master Craig A. Mumma (Swordfish, Little Nicky, Independence Day) from Los Angeles.
The name of the game was stunts and action all day long. No dancing, no singing - just stunts and action. Flying, falling, rescuing, jumping and harrowing narrow encounters and escapes between, over, and around fast moving vehicles.
Beware of Snapped Cables!
Each stunt was carefully synchronized and precisely rehearsed by a costumed stunt double before handing the live action over to the lead actor, handsome Hrithik Roshan - who by now everyone knows, most certainly does his own very dangerous stunts.
Only one day before, at Lau Pasat Hawker Centre, a cable had snapped and sent Hrithik falling, miraculously landing on a shop canopy that only happened to be set up that day because of the wet weather.
I had not been aware of this, and may not have even known except that the crew was still talking about it. The crew member who operated the giant wind machine showed me a tiny camera phone snapshot of the prone Hrithik laying dazed on the canopy.
Thrillseekers in the Crowd
The crowd of curious onlookers grew steadily throughout the day as shops opened for business. In fact, the Singapore Post Office on Robinson Road was open as usual, except that stunts were being executed by one of Bollywood's leading actors at the intersection outside. Film Kraft security had their hands full monitoring the crowd for signs of forbidden photo-taking. The only official film here belongs to Rakesh Roshan's company, and they will be carefully preparing it for release to an eager audience next June (2006).
One ray of hope for adoring fans came after the cast and crew broke for lunch at about 1:15.
Clustered around Hrithik's white van, a mostly female throng wedged their way between the vehicles thrashing autograph booklets and camera-phones in the air towards their hero who was escorted by three security men. Ever the gentleman, Hrithik politely and graciously did what he could in the short time available, as there was still much work to be done.
Take Care
Anoli
xxx
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Vanshaj
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