Superman, Frodo and Star Wars: the stunning life of Kiran Shah – the world’s smallest stuntman

Shah’s stature (he is just under 4ft 2in, or 126cm, according to Guinness World Records), combined with his fearlessness, have helped him find a niche in cinema that has led to an absurdly storied career, not to mention an MBE last month for his services to the film industry.

His favourite experience was working on Superman in 1977. He and his friend Milton Reid (a former wrestler) decided to visit Pinewood Studios one day, looking for work. The director, Richard Donner, showed them on to the Superman set and introduced them to Marlon Brando. “Marlon immediately picked me up and started dancing,” says Shah. “I don’t know why he did that. And I’m going: ‘Marlon, please put me down, I don’t like being picked up.’ He finally put me down and then in walked Reeve, and Donner went: ‘Christopher, I’ve found a stunt double for you!’ and pointed at me. The entire crew were bursting with laughter.”

Donner wasn’t joking, though. For the movie’s flying scenes, the effects team used an array of stunt doubles of different sizes, down to Shah, so they could realistically portray Superman flying through the back-projected cityscape at all distances. Thus, Shah found himself in the iconic Superman costume (and a Christopher Reeve mask), winched up high in the air on wires and swung around for several days with his fist extended in front of him. “It was really brilliant,” says Shah, smiling. “I felt like: ‘I am Superman now!’” He and Reeve got along well, he says. “I used to smoke cigarettes back then, and Christopher was not allowed to smoke. He would come to me and go,” he lowers his voice, “‘Kiran, have you got a cigarette? Let’s go and find a corner.’” It must have been quite a sight: 6ft 4in Reeve and Shah, both in their Superman costumes, sneaking a smoke like naughty schoolboys. “The tall one and the small one! Nobody took a photograph, luckily.”