Medical Fraternity opposes 'Suryaa Aarambh se Ant Tak' teaser, Doctors move Delhi HC seeking film review, stay on theatrical release

New Delhi: Doctors have approached the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the theatrical release of Sunny Deol-starrer Suryaa-Aarambh Se Ant Tak, alleging that the film portrays the medical profession in a manner that could malign the image of doctors and depicts violence against healthcare professionals as justified.

The petition was filed on October 27 by Dr. Dhruv Chauhan and Dr. Nachiketa Bhatia from Legal Cell for All India Doctors, and it seeks an interim stay on the film's theatrical release, scheduled for November 20, 2026.

The doctors have filed the plea, under Article 226 of the Constitution, against the Union of India through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the film’s producer.

According to the petitioners, the official teaser and trailer of the film present a generalised picture of corruption in the medical profession. In the plea, the petitioners have highlighted objectionable dialogues about patients being handed a bill of Rs. 5,00,000 and made to undergo twenty-five tests, and the line “Doctors there don’t write prescriptions... they write commission on slips.”

Further, it has been argued by the petitioners that the promotional lines used in the trailer- including lines such as "Inspired by unbelievable true events” and “Discover the shocking truth of our medical system” lend an apparent claim of factual authenticity to this portrayal.

Also Read: IMA Haryana demands ban on Sunny Deol starrer movie 'Suryaa Aarambh se Ant Tak'

Another issue that the doctors have highlighted is the depiction of physical violence against the healthcare professionals. They have alleged that the film portrays physical violence against doctors, nursing staff and hospital employees as heroic or justified, which endangers healthcare workers and could disrupt emergency services and patient care.

The plea has relied on a representation submitted by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting on October 22. It also referred to Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Supreme Court's rulings on cinematographic expression including KA Abbas, S Rangarajan, Bobby Art International and Prakash Jha Productions.

FAIMA writes to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting:

Meanwhile, the strong opposition against the movie from the medical fraternity continues. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) on Wednesday wrote to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in this regard, seeking a considered review of the movie prior to its release.

In the representation, FAIMA has highlighted concerns regarding the portrayal of doctors, pointing out that the teaser portrays a grieving father, who is also a police officer, confronting what is described as a “corrupt medical system”.

"The accompanying narrative appears to suggest that public trust in doctors has been betrayed through negligence and bribery. The film has also been promoted as being inspired by true events and as a remake of the 2018 Malayalam film Joseph. We unequivocally uphold the freedom of artistic expression and recognise that instances of professional misconduct must be investigated and addressed through the appropriate statutory and judicial mechanisms, including the National Medical Commission (NMC), State Medical Councils and competent courts. However, we are deeply concerned that a narrative presented as being rooted in reality may foster a sweeping and unjustified perception of an entire profession as corrupt or untrustworthy. Creative freedom must be exercised with due regard for the distinction between individual wrongdoing and the integrity of a professional community as a whole," FAIMA said.

Explaining the demands and realities of the medical profession, FAIMA pointed out that the journey to becoming a doctor in India entails exceptional academic rigour, sustained discipline and years of demanding professional training. More than twenty lakh candidates compete in NEETUG for approximately 1.4 lakh MBBS seats. This is followed by five and a half years of undergraduate medical education, including internship, and, for postgraduate aspirants, the further challenge of qualifying NEET-PG and completing three years of residency, FAIMA pointed out.

"Throughout this training, doctors frequently undertake duties extending from 12 to 24 hours in hospitals struggling with overcrowding and shortages of beds, personnel and essential equipment. These systemic constraints are not of doctors’ making, yet doctors remain at the forefront of public expectations and are often held personally accountable for deficiencies beyond their control. Such realities merit recognition in public discourse, particularly when cinema seeks to portray the functioning of the healthcare system," it added.

The letter also referred to the increasing instances of violence against doctors, adding that it demands urgent institutional attention. FAIMA pointed out that according to a national study, more than 75% of doctors have experienced workplace violence. Official data presented before the Delhi Legislative Assembly recorded 149 incidents involving doctors and medical staff between 2021 and 2025.

"These figures are particularly concerning in light of the substantial number of incidents that may remain unreported," FAIMA said. The association referred to the incident dating back to May 2023 when a 25-year-old house surgeon at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital in Kerala was killed. Referring to this, FAIMA said that this remains a stark reminder of the vulnerability of doctors in the workplace. "She was fatally stabbed by a patient who had been brought to the hospital by the police. Her death prompted widespread protests by house surgeons, including those at Ernakulam General Hospital," FAIMA said.

It also referred to recent assault on doctors and healthcare staff at Shastrinagar Hospital, Dombivli, in July 2026 and mentioned that these incidents illustrate that violence against doctors is neither hypothetical nor isolated; it is an ongoing threat to the safety, dignity and functioning of healthcare institutions.

Against this backdrop, FAIMA argued that public narratives that risk intensifying hostility towards doctors warrant careful consideration. "Doctors must not be placed in an environment where professional criticism becomes collective vilification or where intimidation and violence are perceived as legitimate responses to grievances," read the letter.

Highlighting the influence of cinema on public perception and conduct, FAIMA clarified that while any single film directly does not cause an act of violence, repeated and one-sided portrayals of doctors as inherently corrupt, particularly when presented as being inspired by real events, may gradually erode public confidence in the profession.

"The consequences of such portrayals are especially significant in hospitals, where patients and their families often encounter doctors during moments of fear, grief and uncertainty. Trust, mutual respect and cooperation are essential to effective treatment. A narrative that glorifies personal retaliation against doctors or depicts the confrontation of healthcare professionals as a form of justice risks normalising conduct that should instead be addressed through lawful and established grievance-redressal mechanisms. Similar concerns have previously been raised by the medical community before the Ministry and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in connection with films such as Gabbar Is Back (2015) and Kabir Singh (2019). These recurring concerns underscore the need for a considered approach to cinematic representations that may have implications for professional dignity, public trust and workplace safety," the letter mentioned.

FAIMA has urged the Minister to conduct a careful scrutiny of the film before its certification, and ensure that the movie has a clear and prominent disclaimer clarifying that the narrative does not represent the conduct of the medical profession as a whole. Further, the association has urged the Ministry to consider establishing a formal mechanism for consultation with the NMC and relevant professional bodies when films substantially centre on the medical profession or portray healthcare institutions in ways that may have significant public consequences. Other demands include comprehensive legislation to protect doctors, and constructive pre-release engagement.

"Doctors do not seek exemption from scrutiny, nor do we seek to shield professional misconduct from public criticism. We believe in accountability, transparency and the rule of law. What we seek is fairness in representation, recognition of the immense responsibilities borne by doctors, and protection from the consequences of narratives that may foster unjustified distrust or hostility towards the profession. The dignity and safety of doctors are inseparable from the effective functioning of the healthcare system and the public’s ability to access care in an atmosphere of trust. It is therefore imperative that the legitimate freedom of cinematic expression be balanced with a responsible appreciation of its potential social impact," the association further mentioned in the letter.

Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of J.N. Medical College Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, has also written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in this regard. Meanwhile, the RDA of AIIMS Bhopal has strongly condemned the portrayal of violence against doctors in the movie.

Medical Dialogues recently reported that on October 22, 2026, the Indian Medical Association wrote to Ashwini Yadav, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, requesting an urgent review of the film- especially its portrayal of medical professionals and instances of violence against healthcare workers.

The Haryana chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote to the CBFC alleging that the Sunny Deol-starrer movie "Suryaa-Aarambh Se Ant Tak" maligns the entire medical profession for its wrongful portrayal.