From Jackie Chan to Akshay Kumar: Action heroes who do their own stunts
When it comes to action cinema, some stars don’t just act — they live the danger. From Jackie Chan’s jaw-dropping fight choreography to Akshay Kumar’s gravity-defying leaps, these action heroes have earned respect for performing their own stunts, proving that true thrill doesn’t need a stunt double.
These celebrities maintain realism in a world of computer-generated explosions and green-screen combat. Without the use of stunt doubles, they jump, flip, punch, and crash. This list honours the men who redefine fearlessness, from the most audacious in Bollywood to the best in Hollywood.
2/9
Tiger Shroff: India’s Own Action Marvel From Heropanti to War to Baaghi 4, Bollywood's newest action star has established a reputation for accuracy, strength, and unadulterated athleticism. Tiger performs every kick, flip, and fall you see on screen. He is one of the few action heroes who can effortlessly perform a variety of skills, including dance, martial arts, parkour, high-wire leaps, and gravity-defying stunts. He doesn’t just perform stunts, he creates moments that blur the line between cinema and spectacle.
3/9
Jackie Chan: The Original Daredevil Jackie Chan, a legend in his own right, made it his signature to execute risky stunts without the use of doubles or short cuts. Every movie, from Police Story to Rush Hour, is a masterwork of bold comedy-action genius.
4/9
Tom Cruise: Limitless Action Hero Nobody risks it quite like Tom Cruise. Whether it’s hanging off airplanes in Mission: Impossible or jumping between skyscrapers in Ghost Protocol, he’s rewritten the rulebook for realism in blockbuster cinema. Every jaw-dropping sequence comes with one guarantee, Tom Cruise did it himself.
Akshay Kumar: Bollywood’s Khiladi King Before Tiger, there was Akshay, a real martial artist turned superstar. From scaling skyscrapers in Sooryavanshi to leaping from choppers in Khiladi, he’s India’s OG stunt maestro.
6/9
Keanu Reeves: The Method Machine John Wick isn’t just a movie, it’s a movement. Keanu trains rigorously with real weapons, tactical drills, and combat choreography, proving that authenticity always hits harder.
7/9
Jason Statham: The British Brawler Whether it’s Crank, Transporter, or Fast & Furious, Statham’s blend of slick moves and stone-cold focus makes him one of cinema’s most believable tough guys.
8/9
Tom Holland: The Young Spider with Real Moves Unlike many CGI-heavy heroes, Tom performs much of his own wirework and acrobatics in the Spider-Man series, bringing a genuine sense of agility and heart to the suit.
Sylvester Stallone: The Eternal Fighter From Rocky’s brutal boxing sequences to Expendables’ raw explosions, Stallone has spent decades proving that grit, not age, defines a true action hero.
