Rohit Shetty Reveals His Mother Performed Hema Malini Stunts in Seeta Aur Geeta
Rohit Shetty Reveals His Mother Performed Hema Malini Stunts in Seeta Aur Geeta
Rohit Shetty may be synonymous with smashing cars, explosive chases, and massive action spectacles today, but his connection with stunt work goes far deeper than his filmography. In an old interview, the filmmaker revealed that action literally runs in his blood—thanks to the extraordinary careers of both his parents, who were pioneers in stunt work during an era with minimal safety measures.
Ratna Shetty: The Fearless Stuntwoman Behind Iconic Bollywood Scenes
Speaking to ANI in a throwback conversation, Rohit Shetty recalled how his mother, Ratna Shetty, performed dangerous stunts for leading actresses like Hema Malini and Vyjayanthimala. He revealed that many of the most memorable moments in Seeta Aur Geeta were executed by her.
Rohit said,
“My mom was a stuntwoman. All the stunts you see in ‘Seeta Aur Geeta,’ including Vyjayanthimala rolling down the staircase—it’s her. Her physique was such that she could double for them.”
He further shared another high-risk instance, adding:
“The fan sequence in ‘Seeta Aur Geeta,’ and the high-angle bike shots with Rajesh Khanna in ‘Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana’ from ‘Andaz’—that’s my mom too.”
Rohit explained that he grew up surrounded by stunt rehearsals, injuries, and the adrenaline of action sets.
“It’s our family business. It’s in our DNA—breaking bones… breaking our own bones rather than others.”
Ratna Shetty also appeared in films like Darar, Bade Ghar Ki Beti, and Yaar Gaddaar, cementing her legacy as one of Hindi cinema’s earliest female stunt performers. – Rohit Shetty Reveals His Mother Performed Hema Malini Stunts in Seeta Aur Geeta
The Action Legacy of M. B. Shetty
Rohit also remembered his father, M. B. Shetty, a respected action director and actor known for choreographing some of Bollywood’s most intense sequences.
“My father was not just a character actor—he was an action director. People didn’t know much back then because there was no social media,” Rohit recalled.
He revealed that his father was behind iconic scenes like the godown fight in Deewaar, and that he introduced techniques involving glass-break stunts despite the heavy risks involved.
Films under M. B. Shetty’s action direction include Don, The Great Gambler, Trishul, Deewaar, and Shalimar. Despite playing tough on screen, Rohit described him as “soft-spoken, humble, and very emotional.” –
From Assistant Director to Bollywood’s ‘Action King’
Rohit Shetty’s journey in cinema began behind the camera. He worked as an assistant director on Ajay Devgn’s debut film Phool Aur Kaante, before making his own directorial debut with Zameen (2003). His big breakthrough came with the Golmaal franchise in 2006, which evolved into one of Bollywood’s biggest comedy brands.
He later expanded into the cop universe with blockbusters like Singham, Simmba, and Sooryavanshi, solidifying his reputation for large-scale action.
What’s Next for Rohit Shetty?
The filmmaker is currently shooting the Rakesh Maria biopic starring John Abraham, and is gearing up for Golmaal 5, which is expected to go on floors by February–March 2026.
Rohit Shetty Reveals His Mother Performed Hema Malini Stunts in Seeta Aur Geeta
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