31-year-old Geeta Tandon never thought that she would one day become a leading female stuntwoman in Bollywood. With minimal training in performing stunts, Tandon claims to be the only stuntwoman to have successfully attempted car chases on film sets. She started work as a stuntwoman in 2009. But her life before that was full of suffering. She says that she had to marry as a mere teenager, and reached motherhood before the age of 21. There were also episodes of domestic violence and other forms of brutality. Recently, Tondon was awarded Reebok’s “Fit to Fight” award which celebrates unsung women heroes and salutes their spirit to fight each day.
In a conversation with Guardian 20, Tandon speaks about her life and why being a stuntwoman helps her address her anxiety for and anger at the world. Some excerpts from the interview.
Q. Why did you decide to become a stuntwoman?
A. I was married at a very young age due to family problems. My mother died when I was only 10 years old. So, my father got me married. And I was not happy in my marriage and that is why I decided to quit it and left my husband’s place with my two children. And then, another journey started. I had to look after my children so I started hunting for jobs. During this time, I did various kinds of jobs from being a cook to giving massages. I also used to perform folk bhangra dance in marriages. And then finally I came into stunts and then I decided that this is what I want to do now. I never decided to become a stuntwoman. We never had options in anything to choose. But I had to show that I can handle responsibilities and am capable enough to look after my children. I wanted to prove to people that if a woman decides to do something, nothing can stop her. She doesn’t need a man to fulfill her demands. But I wanted to do something different. So, when someone suggested that I do stunts, I said yes. Also, I knew how to ride bikes so that was an added advantage.
When I eventually started doing stunts, I realised it is a risky job. I was not professionally trained. But sometimes, I feel I am in such a profession where I can take out all my frustration and aggression here which I couldn’t show earlier.
Q. But why did you get married at a very young age?
A. I never decided to get married at the age of fifteen. I don’t think that at such a young age, any child is able to take any decision as big as this. Today’s children are very much focused on what they want to do in the future. This was not the case 15 years ago. My family was shattered after my mother expired. My father was also struggling to make money and look after us. But as you know, relatives are the ones who keep interfering in your life and they told my father to get me married. My father’s family thought that since the groom is settled and has his own house in Mumbai, they went ahead to fix my marriage. So, this was not my decision, I just followed what I was told to do.
Q. You have said that you were subjected to marital rape and domestic violence. Did you approach the police about this?
A. See, you take proper legal action when you get support from someone. I was not aware of any rules and regulations and there was no one to guide me on this. How could I even think of taking such a step when I didn’t know the basic routes of buses and local trains in Mumbai? I was never allowed to go outside my house so I hardly knew anything. Wherever we sisters used to go, we were accompanied by our father. So, filing a case was really difficult for me. But I had even tried to flee from my home and even complained to the nearby police station. But each time the police told me to go back, saying it was my personal matter and not a police concern to solve this matter. And even now, there are no such rules made where marital rape is considered a crime.
Q. Did you get support from your father?
A. After my mother had died, he was shattered completely. He was not working and also had to look after my younger sister which he was not able to do properly. So, expecting anything from him in such a scenario was not possible.
Q. Now, after long struggles, you are receiving the Reebok’s “Fit To Fight” award. How does it feel?
A. I don’t have words to describe this feeling. Since childhood, I did not have any support from my family and getting such a prestigious award for my own credibility is something which I always dreamt of. I feel that I have accomplished something in my life. And I am thankful to Reebok who thought of awarding this to women like us whose credibility is hardly noticed by anyone.
Q. Being a stuntwoman, do you feel your work sometimes gets ignored as all the credit is taken by the actors?
A. I don’t pay heed to this. For me, doing a stunt is a big thing. I think I am able to do this because of them, as they are artists. If they say yes to do a stunt themselves, then I don’t think I’ll get any job. And duplicates are used only so that their work gets easier. They can’t afford to get hurt because the whole project depends on them. But if we are injured we can still take a long leave. I think in this way.
Q. Have you planned anything to help unprivileged women?
A. Yes, I have. But I want to do something different. I remember nobody helped me with even a Rs 500 note. So, I would like to have an organisation mainly for women in Bombay who are not supported by their family, for those who are not helped by their husbands; also for divorcees and widows; all would be sheltered here. I will try to help them to fulfill their dreams.