In a somber turn of events, a tragic incident occurred on the set of Sardar 2, the upcoming action-thriller by director PS Mithran starring Karthi, on Tuesday, July 16. A seasoned stuntman, identified as Elumalai, lost his life following a fatal fall during the filming of an action sequence. The incident took place at the renowned LV Prasad Studios in Saligramam, Chennai, where the production was underway.

Elumalai, age 54, was executing a high-risk stunt when he fell from a height of 20 feet from a rostrum. Despite the immediate response and the best efforts of the medical team at a nearby multi-specialty hospital, Elumalai succumbed to his injuries, specifically an internal haemorrhage, at 11:30 pm on the same day. This heart-wrenching event has cast a pall over the production, causing the shooting of Sardar 2 to be halted indefinitely.

Prince Pictures, the production house behind the film, released an official statement acknowledging the tragedy. It read, With profound sorrow, we confirm the untimely death of Mr. Elumalai, a dedicated member of the Stunt Union, who served as a stunt rig man on the set of our film 'Sardar 2'. On Tuesday evening, July 16, during the closure of the day’s shoot following the filming of stunt sequences, Mr. Elumalai suffered a fatal fall. He was promptly attended to by medical professionals, but despite their best efforts, Mr. Elumalai passed away at around 11:30 pm on July 16, 2024.

The statement continued, We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Elumalai’s family and loved ones and pledge our full support to them in this hour of grief. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

As of the time of writing, Karthi, the film's lead actor, has not released a personal statement regarding the incident. The film Sardar 2 was officially inaugurated on July 12 with a traditional pooja ceremony attended by the director and lead actor, as well as Karthi’s father, the esteemed actor Sivakumar. The production, which commenced in Chennai on July 15, was in its second day of filming when the accident occurred.

Sardar 2 is the anticipated sequel to the 2022 spy thriller Sardar, in which Karthi dazzled audiences in dual roles. The film's production team and cast are mourning the loss of Elumalai, a talented professional whose contributions to the industry will be sorely missed.