Filming a pirate movie may look exciting on screen, but for Karl Urban, it was physically exhausting.
The 53-year-old actor stars in The Bluff, a new action–adventure streaming on Amazon Prime Video. In the film, he plays a rugged pirate alongside Priyanka Chopra, but he recently admitted that the role pushed him to his limits.
During an interview on The Discourse podcast, Urban explained that long days in heavy costumes, intense action scenes, and outdoor filming left him completely drained. He revealed that by the end of each day, he would remove his pirate gear and reward himself with a “double tequila” for the ride home.
The movie was filmed in Australia, which was transformed to look like the Cayman Islands. Urban said filming on real beaches and outdoor locations made the scenes feel more authentic. However, working under the sun and in strong winds made the shoot much tougher than a studio production.
Priyanka Chopra agreed that the experience was demanding. She joked that she needed more than just a drink to recover, saying she would have taken a “tetanus shot and a margarita.” The actress also shared that there was no room for anyone to fall sick because the schedule was tight.
In the film, Chopra plays a former pirate determined to protect her son. She said her real-life experience as a mother helped her understand the emotional strength of her character. That protective instinct became the heart of her performance.
Even though filming was intense and tiring, both actors believe the effort shows on screen. The Bluff, released on February 25, delivers action, emotion, and realism — even if it required a little tequila at the end of the day.