# Kajal Aggarwal Recalls Miraculous Escape from Deadly Crane Collapse on Movie Set

> Actress Kajal Aggarwal opened up about surviving the catastrophic 2020 crane collapse on the sets of Indian 2, an ordeal that deepened her spiritual faith and devotion to Lord Krishna.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Bollywood · **Published:** 2026-11-13 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/bollywood/kajal-aggarwal-recalls-miraculous-escape-from-deadly-crane-collapse-on-movie-set-59095 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Kajal Aggarwal, Indian 2, Kamal Haasan, Chennai accident, Ramayana Mandodari, Lyca Productions

Renowned actress Kajal Aggarwal, who has built an impressive body of work across both South Indian cinema and Hindi films, recently reflected on the most terrifying chapter of her life. While her on-screen appearances became somewhat selective following her marriage, she has recently generated significant buzz for portraying Mandodari in the mega project Ramayana. Yet, amid this career milestone, she looked back at a catastrophic event from four years ago that fundamentally transformed her outlook on survival, destiny, and spiritual faith.

## Celebration Cut Short by Unforeseen Tragedy
The tragedy took place in February 2020 at EVP Film City in Chennai during the filming of the high-octane project Indian 2, fronted by veteran star Kamal Haasan. Just days prior to the incident, Aggarwal had been in Singapore celebrating the high-profile unveiling of her wax figure at Madame Tussauds. She had no inkling that within a matter of days, an idyllic professional high would be violently eclipsed by an industrial nightmare that would leave her questioning her very survival.

## A Hundred-Foot Crane Comes Crashing Down
On that fateful evening, the crew was immersed in mounting an elaborate action sequence. Aggarwal was sitting near the director's monitor alongside members of the production unit, having spent hours getting fitted with prosthetic makeup to depict an 80-year-old matriarch. Without warning, sudden panic erupted across the floor. In the frantic rush to clear the perimeter, Aggarwal tripped against a production table and stumbled hard to the ground.

Pausing momentarily to comprehend what everyone was fleeing from, she turned her head. To her sheer horror, a massive 100-foot industrial crane was tilting and hurtling directly toward the spot where she lay. The actress recalled freezing entirely as the colossal metal structure plunged downward, with events unfolding so rapidly that her mind went completely blank. By all mathematical probability, being directly beneath the trajectory meant she would have been the very first fatality on site.

## The Unseen Hand and an Awakening to Krishna
Aggarwal described experiencing a sudden sensation akin to an unseen presence pulling her away from the immediate impact zone just moments before disaster struck. The gargantuan structure smashed violently onto the floor mere inches from where she was situated. Trembling uncontrollably as dust and wreckage settled around her, the sheer magnitude of the near-miss left her utterly paralyzed with shock. Even years later, the vivid memory brings chills, leaving her constantly bewildered over how she managed to walk away with her life.

The emotional aftermath of escaping certain death plunged the actress into days of profound shock and deep reflection. Recognizing the fragile thread of human existence, she found solace in spirituality and eventually became an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. The trauma crystallized her belief that an unseen divine grace had granted her a second chance at life.

## Casualties and Financial Restitution
While Aggarwal survived, the catastrophe claimed the lives of three crucial crew members: Krishna, Chandran, and Madhu, while leaving numerous others injured. Distraught by the loss, the actress expressed her grief on X shortly after, noting that the sorrow of losing valued colleagues so abruptly was impossible to convey in words.

Kamal Haasan, who was also present on set, narrowly escaped harm as he stood just meters away from the crash radius. Months after the tragedy, director Shankar, Kamal Haasan, and production house Lyca Productions came together to support the grieving families, delivering 1 crore rupees each to the kin of the three deceased technicians. Furthermore, a technician who suffered severe injuries was granted 90 lakh rupees, while crew members sustaining minor injuries received 10 lakh rupees in financial assistance.

## What this means for you
This harrowing incident underscores the vital necessity of rigorous occupational safety standards and structural oversight on heavy film sets.

- **In the film industry:** Production units have faced mounting pressure to institute strict third-party mechanical audits and equipment safety inspections. Film companies now routinely enforce comprehensive on-set hazard insurance protocols for high-risk stunts and complex rigging.
- **For technical workers:** The event sparked critical discourse on the working hazards faced by technicians and support staff behind the camera. It established a strong precedent for financial accountability, emergency medical backup, and mandatory restitution.
- **For general audiences:** The episode highlights the grave real-world dangers underlying high-budget cinematic spectacles. It demonstrates that spectacular action sequences often depend on the dedication of behind-the-scenes personnel who face genuine physical hazards.
- **On mental trauma and recovery:** Escaping life-threatening industrial accidents often triggers profound psychological trauma and existential re-evaluation. The aftermath illustrates how individuals navigate severe shock through mindfulness, spiritual grounding, and renewed priorities.

## Why this happened
The catastrophe was precipitated by a sudden mechanical and structural collapse of heavy industrial equipment during an overnight shoot at EVP Film City in Chennai.

- **Mechanical and structural failure:** A towering 100-foot construction crane used to mount lights and camera apparatus lost structural stability and collapsed without warning. The sheer velocity and weight of the falling iron framework gave nearby personnel virtually no time to evacuate.
- **High-density work area:** Multiple cast members and technical crew members were clustered closely around the monitors during the intense action sequence. The confined working area between lighting rigs and production tables severely hindered immediate escape routes once panic broke out.
- **Safety accountability:** The catastrophe prompted formal inquiries into rigging protocols and machine inspection standards on major studio floors. Subsequently, the film's lead actor, director, and production house took collective financial responsibility by compensating the victims' families.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which accident did Kajal Aggarwal narrowly survive?
Kajal Aggarwal narrowly survived a catastrophic 100-foot crane collapse in February 2020 during the shooting of Indian 2 at EVP Film City in Chennai.

### 2. Who lost their lives in the Indian 2 set disaster?
Three technical crew members, named Krishna, Chandran, and Madhu, tragically lost their lives, while several others sustained injuries.

### 3. What was Kajal Aggarwal doing right before the crane collapsed?
She was sitting near the director's monitor alongside crew members, dressed in full prosthetic makeup portraying an 80-year-old character.

### 4. How did this near-death experience impact Kajal Aggarwal personally?
The traumatic close call deepened her spiritual outlook and devotion, leading her to become an ardent follower of Lord Krishna.

### 5. What financial compensation was provided to the victims and their families?
Director Shankar, Kamal Haasan, and Lyca Productions granted 1 crore rupees each to the families of the deceased, 90 lakh rupees to a severely injured technician, and 10 lakh rupees to those with minor injuries.

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