Reshma Pathan is a legendary figure in the Indian film industry, widely regarded as the country’s first female stuntwoman. Her remarkable career, spanning over five decades, is a story of determination, resilience, and breaking gender barriers in a male-dominated field. Often called “The Sholay Girl,” she gained fame as the stunt double for actress Hema Malini in the iconic 1975 film Sholay, where she performed a dangerous tonga chase sequence despite sustaining a severe leg injury.
Pathan’s early life was marked by hardship. Born into a poor, conservative family in Mumbai, she was the eldest of five children and became responsible for her family at a very young age. Her family faced financial struggles, which were compounded when her mother was imprisoned for smuggling and her father became ill. As a tomboy in her youth, her natural fearlessness and daring street antics caught the attention of a local stunt director. At just 14 years old, she entered the film industry out of necessity, initially against her father’s wishes, to support her family.
Throughout her career, Reshma Pathan performed thousands of stunts for nearly 400 films across various languages, including Hindi, Bhojpuri, and South Indian cinema. She served as a body double for many of the leading actresses of her time, such as Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman, Rekha, and Sridevi. Her work was not limited to Indian cinema; she also contributed to international productions like Gandhi and The Warrior. Her life’s work was fraught with danger, and she often faced significant risks, as evidenced by a severe injury on the set of Sholay and an incident where she was hit by a truck during the filming of Karz. These incidents highlight the lack of safety measures and the personal toll of her profession.
As a trailblazer, Pathan became the first female member of the Movie Stunt Artists Association. She was a fierce advocate for equal pay and stood up against sexism and harassment, handling indecent proposals with tact and courage. Her perseverance paved the way for future generations of women in stunt work. After retiring from active stunts, she continued to be a part of the film industry, taking on small acting roles. Her pioneering contributions have been formally recognised with awards, including the Extraordinary Achievement Award at the Critics’ Choice Film Awards in 2019. Her legacy is further immortalised in the 2019 biopic, The Sholay Girl, which chronicles her life and groundbreaking achievements.