Journalism of Courage
Biker and stuntman Babar Khan,also known as the Baap of Biking hit big time when he won a reality show last year. Now he trains aspirant bikers to do the same
I wish I had participated in this season,because the winner not only wins the golden Pulsar but also gets to do a show in France with Jorian Ponomareff,who is every stunt riders’ idol, beams Babar Khan,winner of the second season of the reality show,Stunt Mania Underground and biking enthusiast. Khan often goes by the moniker of ‘BOB’,i.e.,’Baap of Biking’,and is the proud owner of three Pulsars,two Apaches and one Yahama,including the Chrome Pulsar he won from the last season of the show.
Apart from his reality show shenanigans,Khan also owns a biking academy in Bhopal,a place where students are taught to perform stunts that can pave the way to reality shows and competitions across the nation. Bilal,Maaz and Sikander are all my students who have made it to Stunt Mania Underground, reveals Khan. I always encourage my students to take appropriate safety measures before performing any kind of stunts and never to practice on the road,especially if there is traffic around. Khan has realised the importance of wearing a helmet the hard way. He crashed and injured himself once,and ended up with 31 stitches on the head. I ask my students not to make the mistakes that I made but to learn from them.
Stunt shows are relatively new in a country where reality shows have dominated the television scene. I organise about 10-15 shows a month in cities and towns across the country. My students get a platform to perform in public and it is not that tough to get sponsors after the win, says Khan.
The sport is expensive,as it requires a regular change of bike parts,proper maintanence of the bikes,and proper safety measures. VJ Rannvijay,the host of the show,minces no words when he talks about what it takes to make it. Being a stunt rider is not an easy job. There is very little room for practice. It is a highly technical sport,and not just a couple of rowdies sitting stylishly on bikes.
