Peter Hein (Tamil: பீட்டர் ஹைன்) is an Indian action choreographer and stunt coordinator who works in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada language films. He is best known for his action sequences in the films such as Anniyan (2005), Athadu (2005), Chatrapathi (2005), Sivaji (2007), Ghajini (2008), Magadheera (2009), Enthiran (2010), Ranna (2015), 7aum Arivu (2011), Baahubali (2015), Pulimurugan (2016), Odiyan (2018), Madhura Raja (2019), Jack & Daniel (2019), and Kalki 2898 AD (2024). Stunt masters such as Ram Laxman, Anal Arasu, Silva, Dhilip Subbarayan, Anbariv, Hari Dinesh and Pradeep Dinesh have worked as fighters and assistants to him. He was nominated for the Taurus World Stunt Award against Hollywood choreographers. He received a Filmfare Award for Best Action for his work in Ghajini. He was the first recipient of the National Film Award for Best Stunt Choreographer for his work in Pulimurugan.

Early life and career

He was born in Karaikal, Puducherry, India to a Tamil father and Vietnamese mother. He grew up in Chennai's Vadapalani neighbourhood. His father, Perumal, worked as an assistant fight master in Tamil films. Later, Peter started his career as an extra fighter and assistant fight master for many Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. During the initial days of his career, he worked as assistant to action directors Kanal Kannan and Vijayan. During his early days he was body double for heroes as well as heroines. His debut film as "fight master " was in Gautham Vasudev Menon's debut directorial Minnale (2001). Krishna Vamsi, a Telugu film director recognised his sincerity and dedication and offered him the chance to direct the action sequences for the film Murari which was also dubbed into Tamil. From then on, he became a full-length action film director, action co-ordinator and stunt director for various Telugu and Tamil films. He acquired recognition from critics and media for his work in several films such as Anji, Run, and Kaakha Kaakha and it was his work in films such as Varsham, Anniyan, Athadu, Chatrapati and so on that brought him critical acclaim. Ram Gopal Varma introduced him to Bollywood with the film James. Mani Ratnam was very much impressed with his work in films like Athadu, Anniyan and Sivaji and enrolled him to direct the stunt sequences for the film Raavan. However, due to scheduling conflicts with Magadheera, Hein has done limited work for Raavan. He was the first recipient of the National Film Award for Best Stunt Choreographer for his work in Pulimurugan (2016). He also directed the 2021 Indo-Vietnamese film Sám Hối: The Living Sandbag.

Filmography

Actor

Extra fighter

Assistant

Awards