Ravi Varma took Rs 3 lakh for safety measures; absconding

The stunt director of Kannada movie Maasti Gudi who has been booked by police after two actors drowned at Thippagondanahalli reservoir while shooting a fight scene, is under severe attack by all as no safety measures were taken while shooting this dangerous scene.The shocking news coming out of the Maasti Gudi film crew and the police is that the stunt director, Ravi Varma, had taken Rs 3 lakhs saying he would rent boats and other things required for safety, but never actually did anything for their safety.The producer even asked him if he had taken all the measures, to which Ravi Varma misleadingly replied in the affirmative.
On Monday, two actors Anil and Uday drowned after jumping from a helicopter while shooting a dangerous scene. The film Maasti Gudi stars Dunia Vijay. The real culprits, director Nagashekar and stunt director Ravi Verma, planned this shoot, but no safety measures were taken.
A close friend of producer Sundar, who is already in jail, and also known to Dunia Vijay and Nagashekar, narrated what actually happened at the set. According to him, Sundar had clearly told the director and the stunt director about the need to take safety measures and money was also paid for the same.
'Director Nagashekar had planned this scene and when the shoot was about to begin, everyone knew that it would be shot near the shore. The plan was to make the helicopter hover around 20ft away from the shore at a height of maximum of 50-60 ft and finish the shoot. In the light of this plan, three boats were to be kept ready with lifesaving personnel in tow. Plans were afoot to hold the stuntmen with ropes while they were jumping. However, Ravi Varma took Rs 3 lakh prior to this shoot on the pretext that he would ensure safety measures, but failed to deliver. Interestingly, the boat seen in the footage belongs to the lake authority and was not hired by Varma to ensure safety.
Sources said that once Varma got an inkling of things having gone awry, he immediately left the place on Monday afternoon. After a few hours, director Nagashekar also left the set. Although he returned, Varma was not to be seen even when Uday's body was found. Sources also said that both Anil and Uday were scared to do this stunt, but they were forced to do it. After producer Sundar, director Nagashekar was also arrested by Magadi police.