Lilavati Hospital’s Dr Jalil Parkar has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Sunny Deol’s upcoming film Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak, emphasising that doctors are human beings who deserve understanding and respect. He highlighted the years of training doctors undergo, their commitment to saving lives and the financial responsibilities they shoulder. His remarks come after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking an urgent review of the film’s teaser over its portrayal of doctors and violence against healthcare workers. The association has raised concerns about public trust and the safety of medical professionals.
Dr Jalil Parkar Says Doctors Are Human Beings Too
Speaking about the controversy surrounding the ‘s Suryaa teaser, Dr Jalil Parkar stressed that doctors dedicate years to training and are committed to saving lives. “Doctors are in the profession of helping people and treating them. However, people must understand that doctors are human beings too. Their training is focused on saving lives,” he told PTI.
The Lilavati Hospital doctor also highlighted the financial expectations placed on medical professionals, pointing out that patients sometimes overlook the costs associated with healthcare. Drawing a comparison with the hospitality industry, he said that people readily pay for restaurant meals but often expect medical treatment to be provided free of cost.
“Nowadays, everyone wants treatment but does not want to spend money on it. Let me give you an example. When you visit a good restaurant, you pay the listed price without arguing. You enjoy the food you like and pay for it. But when it comes to doctors, people expect treatment to be provided free of cost, which is often not possible today,” he said. Dr Parkar further emphasised that doctors have personal and financial responsibilities, just like professionals in other fields. He noted that their earning years are limited, particularly considering the extensive training required before they begin practising.
“Doctors have families too. A doctor’s earning years are limited, generally from the age of 40 to 55 or, at the most, 60, after years of training. They have to manage their family responsibilities and expenses during this period,” he said.
Why Has The IMA Objected To Sunny Deol’s Suryaa Teaser?
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking an urgent review of Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak over its portrayal of doctors and violence against healthcare workers. The association raised concerns about the teaser, released on October 19, arguing that its depiction of corruption in healthcare could create a negative impression of the medical fraternity and undermine public trust in doctors.
The IMA specifically objected to the generalisation of corruption within healthcare and scenes depicting physical assaults on doctors, nursing staff and hospital personnel, particularly when such violence appears heroic or justified.
In its letter, the association warned that such portrayals could normalise hostility towards healthcare workers and further endanger their safety. It also expressed concern that the film could weaken the trust and cooperation essential to the doctor-patient relationship.
Sunny Deol’s Suryaa
The IMA clarified that it does not seek to protect doctors guilty of misconduct. Instead, it maintained that individual wrongdoing should be addressed through appropriate legal and disciplinary action without tarnishing the reputation of the wider medical fraternity. The association has urged the ministry to review the film, seek appropriate corrective measures from its makers and consider a ban or other action if justified under applicable law.
About Suryaa
Ant Se Aarambh Tak is an upcoming Hindi crime thriller starring Sunny Deol and directed by M Padmakumar. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on November 20. Its teaser follows a father investigating the truth behind his daughter’s illness and hints at problems within the medical system. However, the portrayal of doctors and violence against healthcare professionals has drawn objections from medical bodies even before the film’s theatrical release.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has clarified that the film has not yet been submitted for certification.