Decoding the khel behind the khatra

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What is life without a little danger, especially if you are paid a million bucks for it? That's what the makers of Khatron Ke Khiladi will tell you. Kicking off in India in 2008, the reality show, over its subsequent seasons, has shown us the varied forms of daredevilry - from being tied underwater on a wheel in season 9 to lying under a moving train in season 10. In July, the 13th season kicked off with contestants Daisy Shah, Shiv Thakare, and Arjit Taneja, among others. But what does it exactly take to create a show like this? It's with this question that we sit down with Malaya Pradhan, Project Head, Fear Factor. "The planning has many components, location being the most critical one and the feasibility of doing the show in that locale," says the showrunner.

It's all about the location

Undeniably, stunts are the most important part of an adventure reality show. But they largely depend on the show's location. Which is why, Pradhan says, the design team begins scouting for destinations almost a year in advance. "In 2017, when we did the Spain edition, [my team] landed in the country in June 2016, and then again in February 2017, before the host and contestants came down in May," he recollects. While doing recce, three things are taken into account - camera angles, possibility of stunts in the location, and finally, the animals that the region acts as a habitat to. "Any location has to look great on camera, even if it is to capture the sunset. Since we are investing so much money and effort into the show, it is important to capture locations that the country is known for. The next thing we look at is if at least 30 to 40 stunts can be pulled off there. For example, we see if there are two buildings of the same height and whether a stunt can be arranged between them. Or whether there is a water body and whether a helicopter can be flown over it. We also have to check if the lakes are deep enough so that if someone falls into it, they don't hit the bottom." When it comes to wildlife, different regions satisfy different criteria. While lions are easily available in South Africa, tigers and bears have a dense population in Spain. "At any point, we have to make sure at least 150 types of snakes can be used. So, we check whether the location can provide that. A lot of paperwork goes behind everything we do."

One also has to consider whether the locales chosen can accommodate the huge shooting team. At any given time, the location has to accommodate at least 200 people. "Production logistics is key. We may find a beautiful location, but if there is no place to park at least 150 vehicles for the production, artistes, hosts and the cranes, it cannot be used," he explains, adding that they take multiple trips before zeroing in on a destination.

Setting done, stunts shuru

After finalising the location, the design team addresses the heart of the show - the stunts. Pradhan says all stunts can be broken down into four broad categories - height, water, speed, and reaction. "Height could be [a stunt from the top of a] building or in a chopper. [We sometimes intersect it] with water, wherein you have a contestant on a rig jump into water. Water stunts include anything from [going] underwater or performing a task in a swimming pool. Speed stunts involve cars or long container trucks. The reaction stunts vary from animals to shock. This season, we did about 84 stunts with a forest theme at the opening."

The execution

Putting together close to 80 stunts every season is not a cake walk. Season on season, the Indian team has been working with either the Argentinian or South African stunt teams. While Pradhan's team designs and ideates the stunts, the foreign counterpart is trusted with gauging their executability and ensuring the contestants' safety. "For instance, this year, we decided against introducing contestants one by one. We decided to have the contestants holding on to a reverse balloon structure under the chopper. The South African team executed it. They determined what is the maximum weight the chopper can carry, what will be the structure, what material it will be made of, and so on. They took every individual's weight into account before building the structure under the chopper," shares Pradhan.

Surprises and setbacks

In a show of this nature, there are bound to be surprises. Pradhan emphasises that the key is to be thoroughly prepared. So, what is the biggest challenge? The weather, he says promptly. Summer in Europe is the best time to shoot because there is no wind or rain. "In 2018, the weather was a huge issue in Argentina [during season 9]. It was extremely cold. When you are doing a height stunt [involving] a rig that is 25 storeys above the ground and one has to walk on a table plate [disc shaped things], which is placed on a ladder or from one building to the other, the wind plays a huge role. In such a scenario, we have to wait for the wind to subside or cancel the stunt. Similarly, once we had planned a chopper stunt. But because of [gusty] winds, we didn't get the permission from local weather traffic control to take off."

Malaya Pradhan

Weather isn't the only spoilsport. Sometimes, the team has had to cancel stunts involving animals. "In Bulgaria, in season 10, we had to push a stunt because the ostriches [were running amok]. Likewise, in Spain [in season 8], the animal handler told us to wait for the lions to calm down before shooting with them. We don't take safety lightly." The team keeps back-up stunt designs ready in such situations. Present on location are the safety team, medical team, local production, the Indian production, technical, directors, creative and commercial team.

KKK's scariest

Chopper stunt (season 11)
Pecked by hen (season 11)
Rotating wheel underwater (season 9)
Under moving train (season 10)
Fire cycle (season 9)
Battling with ostriches (season 11)
Wax on body (season 10)
Tear gas chamber (season 10)
Breathless in vacuum (season 9)