The world of glitz and glamour often hides the real-life dangers faced by film stars. Beyond the camera flashes and red carpets, several Bollywood celebrities have faced moments that brought them perilously close to death. Their stories of survival are not just tales of luck but powerful reminders of human fragility. Here, we recount the harrowing experiences of five famous personalities who stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale.
A Brush with Fate on the Film Set
For an entire generation, Amitabh Bachchan's accident on the sets of 'Coolie' in 1982 remains an unforgettable tragedy. During a fight sequence with co-actor Puneet Issar, the legendary star mistimed a jump and suffered a severe internal abdominal injury. He was rushed to Bangalore's St. Philomena's Hospital in an unconscious state, with his condition turning so critical that the nation came to a standstill.
Fans across India held prayer vigils, walked barefoot to temples, and flooded hospitals with letters. The collective anxiety lifted only when he slowly recovered. Bachchan himself later reflected on the incident as a "rebirth," an event that profoundly altered his perspective on life and fame.
Modern-Day Perils in the City
In a shocking incident in 2019, actress Mouni Roy had a miraculous escape while commuting in Mumbai. A massive slab of concrete from a construction site crashed onto her car at the Juhu signal, completely shattering the sunroof. The 'Brahmastra' star later shared a chilling video of the damage on social media, calling out the negligence of the Mumbai Metro authorities.
Mouni questioned the lack of accountability, highlighting how a difference of a few inches could have led to a devastating outcome. The event served as a stark warning about urban infrastructure safety.
More recently, in January 2025, Saif Ali Khan faced a different kind of threat at his own home. The actor survived a frightening burglary attempt where an intruder confronted him. While specific details were kept private for security reasons, reports confirmed that Saif managed to overpower the assailant. He escaped physically unharmed but was understandably shaken, leading to an immediate upgrade in security at his residence.
Close Calls During Work and Life's Milestones
Actress Bipasha Basu's terrifying ordeal occurred while filming the horror movie 'Alone' in the backwaters of Kerala. As reported, she was on a high-speed jet ski with her co-star and future husband, Karan Singh Grover, when the vehicle suddenly overturned.
Bipasha was thrown into deep water as the jet ski began to sink. With the safety crew at a distance, Karan acted instantly, diving in to pull her to safety. His quick thinking averted what could have easily turned into a fatal tragedy on set.
For Dia Mirza, the life-threatening crisis struck during one of life's most precious moments—her pregnancy. At six months, she had to undergo an emergency appendectomy. The situation worsened when she developed an acute bacterial infection that risked turning septic.
As her health deteriorated and her placenta began to haemorrhage, doctors made the critical decision to deliver her baby prematurely. Dia has since expressed immense gratitude towards her medical team for saving both her and her child during those traumatic weeks, a testament to modern medical intervention.
These stories underscore a stark reality: fame offers no shield against random accidents or sudden health crises. From film sets to city streets, and from homes to hospitals, these celebrities encountered moments where their survival hung by a thread. Their experiences, marked by courage, quick action, and sometimes sheer luck, continue to inspire and remind us of the preciousness of life beyond the silver screen.
