Fight, Masters! - Drona

Two stunt directors on the sets of Drona executed a real-life action sequence by coming to blows over an argument

What happens when two action directors lock horns? Blows, punches and kicks rain, and there is no room for any talking. The crew members of the Abhishek Bachchan- starrer Drona were bemused to see 50-year-old veteran action director Shyam Kaushal and 44-year-old Romania-based stunt co-ordinator Tom Delmar literally grabbing each other's collars on the sets. Abhishek Bachchan, among others, helped to separate the two. While most are under the impression that they were enacting an action sequence among themselves, few know that Kaushal and Delmar are not particularly fond of each other.

Abhishek Bachchan

It all started with the duo having creative differences over the way Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra should execute their stunts. Kaushal and Delmar had frequents arguments and usually they simply ignored each other. Says a reliable source, "They don't get along with each other. They disagree on most things. There have been times when both have hurled abuses at each other." Things reached a flashpoint when the duo engaged in a brawl and now Kaushal might not be a part of the second schedule of the film.

When quizzed about the scuffle, Kaushal says: "Tom dare not touch me." He comes clear by saying that he has had arguments with Delmar in the past. He says, "It's not necessary for two working professionals to agree on everything. Tom comes with a different mindset altogether. I have worked with famous Chinese stunt master Siu-Tung Ching for Krrish and I had no problems with them, but I had arguments with Tom."

Kaushal also explains that a Hollywood stuntman comes with pre-conceived notions and may fail to do justice to the film concerned. "Honestly, it's the producer's prerogative to decide who's best. All that I can say from my experience is that a lot of Hollywood stuntmen don't deliver as expected. Also, they are not acquainted with our ways of working," he says.

Kaushal may not be a part of the second schedule of the film that starts in August. "I don't know if the producers are talking to someone else," he says. However, producer Shrishti Arya makes light of the situation. "Boys will be boys," she says.

Fight masters Shyam Kaushal and Tom Delmar (r)