Hollywood Action Director Jack Gill Helps Actress Kajol On Action Scenes

Ajay Devgan and Kajol shot some really stunning action scenes recently in Mehboob Studios for their forthcoming film, Toonpur Ka Superhero. Hollywood action director Jack Gill, whose work repertoire includes big action successes like the Spider-Man and Superman series as well as The Rock and Terminator 2, was at the helm of the affairs.It is learnt that while Kajol was a little apprehensive of the difficult action scenes, Jack managed to convince her to go ahead without fear.

“Kajol is quite a lot like my wife in the sense that she does not want to do action. She likes love stories and drama. I kind of identify with her. She is a beautiful lady but I had to coax her to do the stunt with Ajay. It was not a very difficult shot, but I could see fear in her eyes. She is not comfortable with it, like Julia Roberts who does not like action at all. Julia had this fear of heights and I had to go slow with her. It took her a while to get used to it, too,” Jack tells us.

Jack had in mind Ajay’s ‘action hero’ image before he began the actual shoot. “But it took a while for him to get back to action…. He was sore for the first three to four weeks. He didn’t realise that it would get so rigorous,” explains Jack.”Along with the equipment, we had something called the cage. It lifts the actor high up in the air 20 to 30 metres and twists his body, spiraling him up to the camera. He’s looking up at the camera as it is above him. Lifting the camera and actor as one piece of machinery can make anyone feel dizzy. It’s tough but Ajay picked it up fast,” reveals the action director.

But shooting in Mumbai has not been easy ride for Jack. Says he, “We got cutting edge equipment from the US, which was a first for any Bollywood film. It was a new technique for them and was taxing. Especially the manual hydraulic devices, which can pull you up from one place and fly you across stage and land you right in front of the camera. If you don’t handle the rig properly it can break your legs.”

Currently shooting for Wild Hogs 2, Jack Gill says that Hollywood style action is fast picking up in India. “I always thought Bollywood was just one area in Mumbai, but when I came here I realised it was spread all over Mumbai.”But then did he have communication problems?”Well, language was no issue. I work through gestures. There was no problem communicating with them. I have got used to the food here. But now food back home is going to taste strange since I am so used to the spicy stuff!” Jack concludes.