Abhishek copies Ajay Devgn's stunt for 'Players'

Mumbai: Bored of regular stunts, Bachchan Jr balances himself atop two speeding trains for an upcoming film.

Remember how everyone was amazed by Ajay Devgn's now legendary split on two bikes in his debut film 'Phool Aur Kaante'? Well, Abhishek Bachchan has just gone ahead and done a similar stunt, but this one is on two trains speeding at 60 miles per hour (96 kmph).

The stunt, which was performed last month in Murmansk, Russia for Abbas-Mustan's 'Players', was apparently Bachchan's own idea, and was so dangerous that both the stunt director of the film and the Russian stunt coordinator shot it down. Eventually the actor is learnt to have got his way.

According to a source from the unit, who believes the actor should not have been allowed to perform such a dangerous stunt, "He balanced himself on two speeding trains. We shouldn't have allowed Abhishek to attempt it."

According to the source, the actor was initially supposed to shoot a sequence in which he balanced himself on a speeding train. But because similar scenes were performed in recent films like Luck, Bodyguard and Robot, Bachchan suggested they try something better. The source said, "Abhishek then suggested he balance himself on two trains just like Ajay Devgn did in 'Phool Aur Kante'. But bikes are one thing, trains another."

When contacted, Abbas, one half of the duo Abbas-Mustan, said, "Everyone, including the Russian stunt coordinator and our own action director Allan Amin, rejected Abhishek's idea. But he was adamant."

According to Abbas, to make the stunt safer, it had been agreed upon that the trains' speed would be brought down to 40 miles per hour, instead of the regular 60 miles per hour. But secretly, Bachchan had instructed the train drivers to keep to their regular speeds. Abbas said,

"We had no idea that the trains were moving at a much faster speed. I don't know how we managed it. When my brother Mustan and I looked at the stunt's rushes, we were stunned. It was a miracle nothing happened." He added, "Of course we took all precautions, including the use of harnesses, etc. But still." According to sources, the filmmakers are now worried if the stunt will be viewed as a contravention of safety rules.