{
  "id": 7828335,
  "title": "Bollywood blast master keeps it real with fire and fury",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/bollywood-blast-master-keeps-it-real-with-fire-and-fury",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T16:54:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/entertainment/2026-09-16-bollywood-blast-master-keeps-it-real-with-fire-and-fury/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bollywood special effects maestro Vishal Tyagi prefers the traditional route to create awe-inspiring chaos on screen. In his latest film Dhurandhar 2, Tyagi orchestrated a tanker explosion with 500 liters of petrol and explosives, resulting in a real explosion that star Ranveer Singh featured in. Tyagi, 48, emphasized the authenticity that practical effects provide, which he believes artificial intelligence cannot replicate. To achieve the illusion of a melting tanker, Tyagi's team employed a real train with acrylic panels and a metal frame. Tyagi, an arms specialist, also provides weapons and explosives as props for various productions in India and abroad. He has worked on films including Slumdog Millionaire, Zero Dark Thirty, Extraction, Tiger, Pathaan, and Jawan. Growing up surrounded by firearms and explosives, Tyagi inherited the profession from his father, Mahendra Tyagi, who later died in a studio fire. Despite advances in AI, Tyagi asserts that technology cannot replace practical special effects, as nature's unpredictability adds to the audience's appreciation on screen. However, Tyagi faces challenges as Bollywood often demands Hollywood-level results with limited time and resources. His crew adheres to strict safety protocols, but risks persist. On set, Tyagi once narrowly escaped a fatal accident when a diesel tank explosion killed a worker in Chennai.",
  "summary": "From fireballs to gunfights, Bollywood special effects master Vishal Tyagi is going the old-fashioned way to create cinematic chaos in a way he says artificial intelligence simply cannot.",
  "key_points": [
    "Bollywood special effects artist Vishal Tyagi uses traditional methods for realistic chaos.",
    "In Dhurandhar 2, Tyagi created a tanker explosion with 500 liters of petrol and explosives."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}