Salman as professional as Christian Bale, Tom Hardy: Tom Struthers
New Delhi
April 4,2018
He has choreographed action for Christian Bale in "The Dark Night" and
for Tom Hardy in "Dunkirk" among over three dozen films in a career nearing 30
years. Hollywood's famous action director Tom Struthers, who is now working on
some high-octane stunts for Bollywood film "Race 3" in Abu Dhabi, finds Indian
superstar Salman Khan no less a professional.
"Race 3" marks the second
time that Struthers is working with Salman, with whom he last collaborated for
"Tiger Zinda Hai" -- also widely shot in Abu Dhabi. He loved the experience both
times.
"I think you can expect the same kind of enthusiasm and
high-octane action in 'Race 3' as 'Tiger...', but there's nothing I can tell you
about (the plot)," Struthers told IANS over phone from Abu Dhabi, which is fast
becoming a much-loved shooting destination for filmmakers.
He considers
Salman as an actor who is sought after and "well-liked".
"I am very
fortunate that in my career I have worked with good, professional people. Salman
is among the highest-paid actors in the world... I've worked with people like
Christian Bale and Tom Hardy. I consider them to be friends and I consider them
to be very, very professional.
"Never once have they been unprofessional
with me. Salman is in the same category. He was kind, caring about his people,
and concerned about his artistes. He cares about where he is going as an actor
and about what he is doing about the character he is playing," added Struthers,
whose first tryst with Bollywood was with Nikkhil Advani's 2013 film "D-Day".
For "Race 3", being directed by Remo D'Souza and starring Anil Kapoor,
Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem, apart from
Salman, Struthers is choreographing the opening and closing sequences. He hopes
these stunts, details of which he was guarded about, are something that the
audience would love.
Struthers, along with Indian action director Anl
Arasu, enlisted the help of the Armed Forces of the UAE, employing a Blackhawk
helicopter, Oshkosh trucks, NIMR military vehicles, and Humvees for the shoot.
twofour54 is providing the team production services as well as the support of
its government and travel services department to ease the process.
The
Australian stunts star, who has also worked on films like "Titanic",
"Braveheart", "Blood Diamond", "Inception" and "Terminator Salvation", finds
Bollywood becoming more professional with time.
"I think Bollywood is in
a great place right now. They are experimenting with culturally different
professionals in the camera, stunts, action-directing departments," he said, and
reminisced how, when he came on board for "D-Day", he knew nothing about Indian
films or Indian culture.
"When Nikkhil Advani called me and said he
wanted to meet me, I said, 'Why not? It will be a new experience, I will learn
and you grow with experiences, so yes, absolutely'. So, I met Nikkhil and he
convinced me to come to India... And rest is history, as they say.
"I
enjoyed every moment in India. People have been super nice to me. I have never
found anyone unpleasant. And as far as I am concerned, what more can you ask
for," he said.
Struthers had missed a chance to visit Jodhpur when the
team of his mentor Christopher Nolan was in the Rajasthan city to shoot scenes
for "The Dark Knight Rises".
As for his filmography, he says it's not
purely action-heavy films that attract him.
"I love doing the action, but
it's also important for me to tell a story. I often choose films not because
they have big budgets, but because I like the script, the story, the actors that
are to be cast... All that is a part of what I do... I feel fortunate that I am
at a stage in my career when I can do that... To pick and choose the films. It's
not just a financial game."
New Delhi
April 4,2018
He has choreographed action for Christian Bale in "The Dark Night" and
for Tom Hardy in "Dunkirk" among over three dozen films in a career nearing 30
years. Hollywood's famous action director Tom Struthers, who is now working on
some high-octane stunts for Bollywood film "Race 3" in Abu Dhabi, finds Indian
superstar Salman Khan no less a professional.
"Race 3" marks the second
time that Struthers is working with Salman, with whom he last collaborated for
"Tiger Zinda Hai" -- also widely shot in Abu Dhabi. He loved the experience both
times.
"I think you can expect the same kind of enthusiasm and
high-octane action in 'Race 3' as 'Tiger...', but there's nothing I can tell you
about (the plot)," Struthers told IANS over phone from Abu Dhabi, which is fast
becoming a much-loved shooting destination for filmmakers.
He considers
Salman as an actor who is sought after and "well-liked".
"I am very
fortunate that in my career I have worked with good, professional people. Salman
is among the highest-paid actors in the world... I've worked with people like
Christian Bale and Tom Hardy. I consider them to be friends and I consider them
to be very, very professional.
"Never once have they been unprofessional
with me. Salman is in the same category. He was kind, caring about his people,
and concerned about his artistes. He cares about where he is going as an actor
and about what he is doing about the character he is playing," added Struthers,
whose first tryst with Bollywood was with Nikkhil Advani's 2013 film "D-Day".
For "Race 3", being directed by Remo D'Souza and starring Anil Kapoor,
Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem, apart from
Salman, Struthers is choreographing the opening and closing sequences. He hopes
these stunts, details of which he was guarded about, are something that the
audience would love.
Struthers, along with Indian action director Anl
Arasu, enlisted the help of the Armed Forces of the UAE, employing a Blackhawk
helicopter, Oshkosh trucks, NIMR military vehicles, and Humvees for the shoot.
twofour54 is providing the team production services as well as the support of
its government and travel services department to ease the process.
The
Australian stunts star, who has also worked on films like "Titanic",
"Braveheart", "Blood Diamond", "Inception" and "Terminator Salvation", finds
Bollywood becoming more professional with time.
"I think Bollywood is in
a great place right now. They are experimenting with culturally different
professionals in the camera, stunts, action-directing departments," he said, and
reminisced how, when he came on board for "D-Day", he knew nothing about Indian
films or Indian culture.
"When Nikkhil Advani called me and said he
wanted to meet me, I said, 'Why not? It will be a new experience, I will learn
and you grow with experiences, so yes, absolutely'. So, I met Nikkhil and he
convinced me to come to India... And rest is history, as they say.
"I
enjoyed every moment in India. People have been super nice to me. I have never
found anyone unpleasant. And as far as I am concerned, what more can you ask
for," he said.
Struthers had missed a chance to visit Jodhpur when the
team of his mentor Christopher Nolan was in the Rajasthan city to shoot scenes
for "The Dark Knight Rises".
As for his filmography, he says it's not
purely action-heavy films that attract him.
"I love doing the action, but
it's also important for me to tell a story. I often choose films not because
they have big budgets, but because I like the script, the story, the actors that
are to be cast... All that is a part of what I do... I feel fortunate that I am
at a stage in my career when I can do that... To pick and choose the films. It's
not just a financial game."
Tags: Salman KhanRemo D SouzaJacqueline FernandezAnil KapoorBobby DeolDaisy ShahSaqib SaleemNikhil AdvaniRace 3Tiger Zinda HaiTerminator SalvationInception The Dark Knight Rises