Nagabandham stars Virat Karrna, John Kokken praise Hollywood stunt director Vlad Rimburg
Synopsis
Hollywood stunt director Vlad Rimburg's obsessive safety protocols — including firing a gun six times before every scene just to confirm an empty cartridge — ensured zero accidents on the set of 'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure'. Actors Virat Karrna and John Kokken say it was a masterclass in how international stunt standards could reshape Indian cinema's approach to on-set safety.
Key Takeaways
Virat Karrna and John Kokken praised Hollywood stunt choreographer Vlad Rimburg for his safety-first approach on the set of 'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure' .
Not a single accident or mishap was reported during the entire shoot, which featured several challenging action sequences.
Vlad Rimburg has previously worked on the Netflix film 'Back in Action' (starring Jamie Foxx ) and the Indian superhero film 'Minnal Murali' .
Rimburg's protocols included firing a gun six times before any scene to confirm the cartridge was fully empty. 'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure' , directed by Abhishek Nama , is set to release on 3 July and is centred around the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram .
Actors Virat Karrna and John Kokken, the lead and a pivotal cast member respectively in director Abhishek Nama's mythological action drama 'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure', have heaped praise on Hollywood stunt choreographer Vlad Rimburg for his meticulous approach to on-set safety during the filming of the movie's demanding action sequences. Notably, not a single accident or mishap was reported throughout the entire shoot — a record the actors attribute directly to Rimburg's rigorous protocols.
Who Is Vlad Rimburg
Vlad Rimburg is a Hollywood-trained fight director with credits spanning several international productions, including the Netflix film 'Back in Action' starring Jamie Foxx. In India, he has previously worked on films such as 'Minnal Murali'. His involvement in 'Nagabandham' marks another high-profile South Indian project for the choreographer.
What the Actors Said
John Kokken described working with Rimburg as both challenging and rewarding. 'We had this fight master called Vlad Rimburg. He is a Hollywood fight director who has been a part of several Hollywood films including a film on Netflix called Back in Action with Jamie Foxx. In India, he has done a couple of films like Minnal Murali. So, for most of the portions that Virat and I were there, he was there and it was fun,' Kokken said.
Kokken further elaborated on the Hollywood approach to stunt safety: 'It was quite challenging also. And it was interesting to see how the Hollywood stunt directors work. There is so much emphasis on safety. And they do so many rehearsals. Even if it's a shot where you are using a gun, Vlad would take the gun and he would make sure that he has fired the gun six times just to make sure the entire cartridge is empty.'
Virat Karrna echoed his co-star's sentiments, affirming that every detail — however small — was handled with particular care under Rimburg's watch.
About the Film
'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure' is scheduled to release on 3 July this year and has already generated considerable buzz following the release of its theatrical trailer. The film is set against the backdrop of the sacred Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, where a divine artefact — the Brahma Kamalam — becomes the centre of an epic conflict between good and evil.
The trailer reveals that despite centuries of attempts by invaders and treasure hunters, the golden lotus has never been stolen. When a powerful evil force seeks to claim it for unimaginable powers, Lord Shiva arrives alongside the Naga Sadhus to defend it. The mystical Nagabandham guarding the temple sets the stage for a climactic clash between divine and dark forces.
Why the Safety Record Matters
Action-heavy productions in Indian cinema have historically faced scrutiny over on-set safety standards. The zero-incident record on 'Nagabandham' — a film with several gripping and physically demanding sequences — underscores the value of bringing in internationally trained stunt professionals. This comes amid growing industry conversation about standardising stunt safety protocols across Bollywood and regional film industries.
Point of View
And on-set injuries remain underreported across industries. The fact that a zero-incident record on a stunt-heavy mythological action film is newsworthy says something about how low the baseline expectation has been. If Rimburg's protocols — exhaustive rehearsals, mandatory equipment checks, structured safety drills — are documented and shared, 'Nagabandham' could serve as a case study for what international stunt standards look like in practice. The industry conversation needs to move from celebrating the exception to mandating the norm.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vlad Rimburg and what films has he worked on?
Vlad Rimburg is a Hollywood-trained fight director and stunt choreographer known for his work on the Netflix film 'Back in Action' starring Jamie Foxx, as well as the Indian superhero film 'Minnal Murali'. He served as the stunt choreographer on 'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure'.
What makes Vlad Rimburg's safety approach different?
According to actor John Kokken, Rimburg places exceptional emphasis on rehearsals and equipment verification — including firing a gun six times before any scene to confirm the cartridge is empty. His Hollywood-trained methodology resulted in zero accidents throughout the 'Nagabandham' shoot.
When does 'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure' release?
'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure', directed by Abhishek Nama, is scheduled to release on 3 July 2025. The film stars Virat Karrna in the lead role, with John Kokken in a pivotal part.
What is 'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure' about?
The film is a mythological action drama centred on the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, where a divine artefact called the Brahma Kamalam is threatened by an evil force. Lord Shiva and the Naga Sadhus join forces to protect it, with the mystical Nagabandham guarding the temple.
Who directed 'Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure'?
The film is directed by Abhishek Nama. It features Virat Karrna as the lead and John Kokken in a key supporting role, with Hollywood stunt choreographer Vlad Rimburg handling the film's action sequences.
