Malavika Mohanan Addresses “Body Double” Controversy in The Raja Saab

Actress Malavika Mohanan has officially responded to the viral chatter surrounding her action sequences in the Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab. The controversy erupted after a behind-the-scenes (BTS) photo leaked showing a male stunt double dressed in her character’s costume—a pink crop top and shorts—leading some to question her previous claims of performing her own stunts.

Taking to her X (formerly Twitter) account on February 14, 2026, Malavika shared new BTS footage to clarify how stunts work in big-budget productions.

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The Reality of Stunt Work

Malavika emphasized that while she enjoys the physical challenge of action, the presence of a professional double is a standard safety and technical requirement:

• Expert Rehearsals: Action directors use stunt doubles to rehearse the choreography and camera angles before the actor steps in for the final shot.
• Risk Management: For exceptionally high-risk maneuvers, professionals are brought in to ensure no one is injured.
• The “Pink Crop Top” Photo: She confirmed the man in the viral photo was indeed her stunt double, but noted that his presence doesn’t negate the work she put in for the final takes.

“I’ve been a sporty girl since a young age… there’s always a stunt double on sets even when the actors are doing their own stunts as the action director gets them to do the rehearsals of the shot… or in the case of certain shots when they feel it’s too risky.” — Malavika Mohanan on X

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The Raja Saab Performance Recap

Despite the buzz surrounding the action scenes, The Raja Saab has faced a challenging run at the box office since its release on January 9, 2026.

Detail	Status
Budget	₹400 Crore
Box Office	~₹205 Crore (Lukewarm Response)
Director	Maruthi
Key Cast	Prabhas, Malavika Mohanan, Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal
Streaming Now	JioHotstar (Featuring an Extended Cut)

The film is currently making waves on OTT, where an “extended cut” was recently released to address technical glitches and add scenes that were initially omitted from the theatrical version.

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Tags: Malavika Mohanan, The Raja Saab, Prabhas, stunt double controversy, Bollywood action, JioHotstar, Maruthi, movie news