'You have to chase fear away', says inspirational stuntwoman Geeta Tandon

By Asjad Nazir

BEING a stuntwoman in India means Geeta Tandon has to show bravery on a daily basis. The 32-year-old regularly rises to the challenge of being involved in death-defying action sequenc­es including being thrown through glass, high speed car chases, getting set on fire and fighting.

The undeniable courage has seen her rise from being a child bride in an abusive marriage to becoming a body double for leading Bolly­wood stars including Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Deepika Padukone.

“I have crossed hurdles in my life and over­come challenges to be where I am today. Yes, I am proud of myself for finding that inner strength, which I believe all women have. My hope is that all women find that same inner power to overcome any obstacles and write their own destiny like I have,” said Geeta.

She may be a warrior-like woman working in a male dominated field, but Geeta is a softly spoken single mother who works hard to provide for her two children. Today the Mumbai-based action woman has turned her own scars into shining beacons of hope for other women battling against the odds and become a symbol for girl power.

The difficult journey started when she was just 10-years-old and her mother passed away. This changed everything as her father struggled to provide for his children.

“When my mother was alive every relative used to behave so politely and they were so loving. But after she passed away none of them wanted to take the responsibility of helping us and they all turned their backs on us. The following years were very difficult,” she explained.

When Geeta was 15-years-old her extended family members told her father it was time she found a hus­band and within days she was mar­ried off to a 24-year-old man from Jaipur.

“Any girl in Indian society who is without her mother is looked down upon. They think she must be spoiled, too smart and a burden. The relatives told my father she is old enough to wed and forced him to arrange a marriage. I could never argue with my father and also believed that somewhere there would be stability in the new home, so I agreed.”

That was the beginning of a nightmare. She had no idea about household chores and was too young to man­age the responsibili­ties given by overly demanding in-laws. The innocent little girl who didn’t know about sex had to cope with a drunken husband forcing himself upon her on a daily basis.

The 15-year-old tried her hardest to stand up for herself, but was in a household filled with bad people. Instead of being supportive, her mother-in-law told the son the best way to control his new wife was by raping her.

“At that age other girls were studying and enjoying their childhood, but I was married to a monster who was forcing himself on me every night. I can’t describe to you how it felt. He used extreme violence on me and would regularly rip my clothes off my body. Those living in the house could hear everything, but no one would come to help me,” she said, with real emotion in her voice.

By the time she turned 16-years-old, Geeta had already had her first child. She was just a child herself and now had to mother a baby. The abuse didn’t stop and the husband would regularly beat her with metal pipes or anything else he could get hold of. She had a second child not long after, but the beatings didn’t stop and one day her husband smashed her head repeatedly on the door.

Somehow she found the strength to go to the police, but they told her it was all part of being married. “It was then that I knew if I stayed with him the only end result for me was being murdered in a terrible way. I could also see that my two young children were having their lives ruined. My childhood had been destroyed, but I didn’t want the same happening to them. That is when I found the strength for them and from them to get out.”

Geeta wanted to start a new life with her two children, but was threatened with more violence when she signalled her intention to leave. She ran away with her children and landed up at her sister’s house, but received no help.

“I thought my sister and her family would help me, but they didn’t. I was told I could only live there if I paid them money. At the time I didn’t have a penny in my pocket. All I had was my two children and a determination from I wouldn’t return to the hellhole we had just come from,” she says with tears in her eyes.

The now single mother of two young children found refuge in a Gurudwara for nearly a week. They were given a place to sleep and food, but Geeta knew she would have to find a job and start earning money to survive. “I needed to earn money to survive and pay for my chil­dren’s studies. I also wanted to earn so I could stand on my own two feet, have self-respect and make my children proud.”

While looking for work, she was propositioned by a wealthy older man to live in a house in exchange for sexual favours. Some­one else tried conning her into becoming a pros­titute, but Geeta knocked back these advances despite desperately needing money.

She did low paid odd jobs including making 150 chappatis a day to earn money. “If you want to survive in this world you have to chase fear away, especially if you are a women. Too many times people are guided by fear and take wrong turnings in life. You have to believe a higher power will guide you towards something great and you should never give up. There were times I was afraid, but a belief something better was out there for me kept me going through my toughest times.”

She then joined a bhangra dance group and was told about someone who worked as a stunt­woman. Geeta had never heard of the profes­sion and jumped headfirst into it despite not having any training. The first time around she was set on fire, got burned and in­haled smoke. Undeterred by the injuries, the brave young lady went back for more. “I was adamant I wanted to be in this line of work and gave it my all.”

The hardworking young woman trained in all areas of the stunt field and rose through the ranks to become heavily in demand. She sus­tained injuries and went through plenty of pain in the profession, but didn’t give up. Today the action woman regularly puts her life on the line for a profession she loves and has become a stunt double for the biggest leading ladies in Bollywood. She is also hotly in demand on the live circuit where she performs her stunts and has made regular television appearances.

Geeta now owns a small apartment in the Mumbai district of Malad, where she lives with her two teenage children. “I just thank God for giving me an opportunity to work as a stunt­woman. I just want to work hard and give my children the opportunities I never had. I want them to hold their heads up high.

“I am just happy today in my life. I don’t owe anyone anything and have got where I am today by sheer determination. I am happy with my children and have a good life.”

Quick Q & A with Geeta Tandon

You have an incredible fighting spirit. Where does that come from?

I have always seen that single women, especially mothers, don’t get a fair place in society and they are ultimately looked down on. I have been determined to change that way of thinking and make a place for myself. When there is talk of woman-power, I want the name of Geeta Tandon to be mentioned.

You went through an abusive marriage and faced incredible challenges in life. How aware are your children of your past?                    

I have nothing to hide from my children. They know everything and are very proud of me. I am proud of them and draw strength from them every day.

What advice would you give women trapped in abusive marriage, thinking there is no hope?

Men who are abusive towards women are ultimately very weak. So first, be a strong woman and don’t be afraid. Don’t suffer abuse in silence and don’t change as a person. If you can’t find help, find inner power that is there in all women to break away and start a new life on your own terms.

What inspires you?

I am a woman! I get inspired by being a woman and am proud to be one. My children also inspire me greatly. I don’t think I would be here today if it wasn’t for them.