The makers of Khatron Ke Khiladi 15 have addressed growing concerns over contestant safety after actor Gaurav Khanna’s injury photos from a recent stunt went viral on social media. The images, showing painful marks on the actor’s back following a rubber bullet challenge, sparked widespread criticism, with many viewers questioning whether the reality show’s stunts had become excessively dangerous. Responding to the backlash, Banijay Asia CEO Deepak Dhar clarified that the Rohit Shetty-hosted series follows international safety standards and that every stunt is conducted under strict supervision with maximum safety protocols in place.
Khatron Ke Khiladi 15 maker says the show is not ‘brutal’
Amid the online outrage, Banijay Asia CEO Deepak Dhar defended the long-running stunt-based reality show and assured fans that safety remains the production team’s highest priority. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dhar dismissed claims that the show had become excessively dangerous.
Gaurav Khanna with Rohit Shetty
He said, “It’s not at all brutal. Well, there is an element of fear. It’s called Fear Factor for a reason… but this is a show that is in its 15th or the 16th season now. We don’t do this in India.” Dhar explained that Khatron Ke Khiladi is filmed at international locations specifically because they are equipped with world-class infrastructure and trained professionals capable of executing high-risk stunts under controlled conditions.
Pain auction stunt goes viral
The controversy began after shared a video on social media revealing the injuries he sustained while performing a stunt involving rubber bullets. The actor’s back was covered with visible marks, leaving fans shocked by the extent of the injuries. Sharing the clip, Gaurav wrote, “I cud still feel this pain watching it on tv. Most painful experience ever. All 4 of us went through this guys… still hav these marks.”
Gaurav Khanna’s injuries
The video quickly gained traction online, with several viewers expressing concern over contestant safety and questioning whether such physically demanding challenges were necessary for entertainment. Clips from the pain auction stunt, which also featured Karan Wahi, Vishal Aditya Singh and Shagun Sharma, raised concerns about their safety as all four contestants had injury marks afterwards.
Coming to GK’s journey, the Bigg Boss 19 winner lost his first stunt where he was paired with Farrhana Bhatt. Then, he also became the second person to give up in the pain auction task, which led him to the much-feared elimination stunt. There, he completed a difficult aerial stunt and won over Shagun Sharma, who aborted the task.