Danger, Daring, and Dedication : Story Of Reshma Pathan India’s First Stuntwoman
We must have only heard about stuntmen, but did you know India had a strong stuntwoman who ruled Bollywood’s action world in the 1970s and 80s? Her name is Reshma Pathan, better known as the Sholay Girl. Long before safety harnesses and CGI effects, she leaped off rooftops, rode galloping horses, and jumped from speeding vehicles, all to make the heroines of Hindi cinema look fearless. At just 14 years old, Reshma began her journey as a stunt double when Fight Director S. Azim offered her a chance to work in films. Her debut came in Ek Khiladi Bawan Pattey (1972), where she doubled for Laxmi Chaya. Paid ₹175 a day—a huge sum then—she took pride in being able to support her struggling family. The Girl Who Dared to FlyReshma’s childhood was filled with hardship and risk. Growing up in poverty, she often helped her mother smuggle rice to make ends meet. But her daring nature stood out; she performed tricks on parked trucks, rooftops, and fountains in her neighborhood, earning small coins from onlookers. That same courage caught the attention of Azim, who invited her to the film sets. Her father, however, opposed the idea, fearing for her safety. But Reshma was determined. With her mother’s secret support, she entered the world of stunts, a world where women were rarely seen, let alone respected.The Sholay BreakthroughHer big break came in Ramesh Sippy’s epic Sholay (1975), a film that would define her legacy. Chosen to be Hema Malini’s stunt double, she performed the iconic tanga chase scene where Basanti is pursued by dacoits. During one dangerous take, disaster struck. A wheel of the tanga failed to break as planned, and the cart hit a rock. Reshma was flung high into the air and badly injured; she needed 17 stitches on her leg. Yet she refused hospitalization. “If I was admitted, they would replace me,” she said. The next day, still bleeding and unable to walk, she returned to the set. Her stitches opened during the shot, but she didn’t tell anyone. That’s the kind of grit that defined her.Respect Earned, Not GivenAfter the harrowing scene, Dharmendra ji called her over. He gave me ₹100; it was a big deal back then, she recalled fondly. That note, she said, remained her prized possession for nearly a decade, until she had to spend it during a period of financial struggle in 1984. In an industry dominated by men, Reshma had to fight for dignity. She faced sexism, harassment, and unequal pay but never let it silence her. Reshma performed thousands of stunts in over 400 films, doubling for legendary actresses such as Waheeda Rehman, Rekha, Hema Malini, Sridevi, Dimple Kapadia, and Meenakshi Sheshadri. Her filmography stretched across Hindi, Bhojpuri, South Indian, and even international films like Gandhi and Mangal Pandey. In 1980, she married Shakoor Pathan, a stunt director. Together, they faced tough times, especially in 1984 when a law temporarily banned stunts in films. Despite personal challenges, Reshma made sure her family never faced the same insecurity. Her sister’s sons became an engineer and manager, while her son became a doctor. Recognized, FinallyReshma Pathan’s decades of fearless contribution to cinema were finally acknowledged when she received the Filmfare Extraordinary Achievement Award at the Critics Choice Film Awards. Her story inspired the 2019 biopic The Sholay Girl, starring Bidita Bag, which paid tribute to her courage and resilience. Even at such an age, she continues to perform, most recently filming a fight sequence for a Marathi film. Her passion for her craft remains undimmed, even after five decades.Unsung Heroes of the Screen: Stuntwomen and Men Who Risk It AllWhile actors may receive the applause and the spotlight, it is the stuntwomen and stuntmen behind the scenes who often face the real danger, turning impossible sequences into cinematic magic. Women like Reshma Pathan, the “Sholay Girl,” risked life and limb to make heroines look fearless, performing death-defying stunts that left audiences in awe. Their courage and skill are the backbone of action cinema, proving that the real heroes are not always the ones on screen but the women and men who bring those moments to life. Without their daring feats, many iconic scenes would lose their thrill, and the actors’ performances would be incomplete. These hardworking stuntwomen and stuntmen deserve recognition not just as doubles, but as pioneers who redefined bravery in Indian cinema.
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