Indian actor Aman Dhaliwal was held hostage and attacked on Thursday by a man holding a tomahawk (axe) at a California gym, a video of which has gone viral on social media.
The video shows the assailant, wearing a blue hoodie, grabbing the actor’s arm – the tomahawk in the same hand – and shouting loudly for water.
Punjabi actor Arman Dhaliwal was critically attacked in America when he was working out at Planet Fitness gym. Arman Dhaliwal bravely subdued the attacker. pic.twitter.com/QXQDH3FI4j
— Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) March 16, 2023
“Please respect us. Give me water. I need water,” he shouts aloud.
The assailant then yells at the 36-year-old actor, who remains calm throughout.
“You want to take advantage of me!” he yells at the actor first and then at others in the gym, while turning his back on Mr. Dhaliwal.
As the assailant turns his attention away from Mr. Dhaliwal, the six-foot-tall actor seizes the moment and tackles the man to the ground, the video shows.
Others rush in immediately to subdue the attacker. Reports indicate that the man has been arrested.
The incident took place at Planet Fitness, a chain of gyms in Grand Oaks, California. Mr Dhaliwal was reportedly working out at the gym when the suspect attacked him.
Photos show Mr Dhaliwal suffered several injuries to his arms and torso. Photos of him in hospital with various bandages on his chest, arms and head have also been widely circulated.
The actor is most famous for his portrayal of the character Rajkumar Ratan Singh in the Bollywood blockbuster Yodha Akbar. The former model has also worked in Indian TV shows and Hollywood movies.
