Sham Kaushal reveals directing son Vicky Kaushal's immolation scene in Dunki was challenging: 'Never been so scared'

Sham Kaushal, renowned action director and father of actor Vicky Kaushal, recently discussed the intensity and difficulties of directing an intense immolation scene with his son in Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki (2023).

Sham shared that while planning intense scenes, like the one involving his son Vicky in Dunki, he often focuses only on the final outcome. He also admitted that though he normally approaches such scenes without hesitation, his natural instincts and concerns, especially with his son involved, sometimes make him feel uneasy.

Senior Kaushal reflected on planning an impactful fire scene with director Rajkumar Hirani. Initially, they considered having Vicky’s character run from the flames. However, Sham felt that wouldn’t convey the right emotion, as the character was meant to feel “dead inside.” To capture this sense of numbness, he decided that the character should face the fire without fleeing, enhancing the depth of the moment.

The action director was deeply committed to capturing the scene’s emotion, despite the stress. Director Rajkumar Hirani noticed Sham’s unusually high anxiety levels, as he wanted every detail to be perfect. Sham explained that it wasn’t just about his son Vicky—he views every actor as family. For him, having Vicky’s character run would have been simpler but would’ve sacrificed the raw emotion they wanted. This careful consideration drove him to push for the most authentic portrayal.

Sham also recounted Vicky's early days in the industry, including his work as an assistant director on Gangs of Wasseypur. Sham revealed he’d reached out to director Anurag Kashyap to help Vicky secure the position, which Vicky took on with determination. Working in the second unit, Vicky and his team shot scenes candidly, occasionally even getting caught by the police. Sham noted that these experiences were instrumental, teaching Vicky that hard work and resilience are key to success.