The Indian Medical Association has asked the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to review, and potentially ban, the Sunny Deol film Surya – Ant Se Aarambh Tak. The doctors’ body objects to how the trailer shows medical professionals and hospital staff.
In a letter sent on Thursday to minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, IMA national president Dr Anilkumar J Nayak asked for urgent intervention in the interest of public health, healthcare worker safety and the future of medical education in India. The film is scheduled to open in theatres on 20 November 2026.
What the trailer shows
The promotional clips show Sunny Deol’s character fighting doctors, nurses and hospital staff. The IMA reads the footage as painting medical professionals as routinely corrupt, overcharging patients and ordering unnecessary tests for commissions. Some scenes present physical assaults on healthcare workers as heroic or justified.
That has already drawn criticism from doctors and medical students on social media.
What the IMA is asking for
- An impartial review of the film and how it represents the medical profession.
- Corrective measures from the makers on the generalisation of alleged misconduct and violence.
- A ban or another action only if it is justified under law.
The IMA says it has more than four lakh members and is not shielding anyone from accountability. If a doctor does something wrong, the association says, that person should face legal or disciplinary action.
Why this matters beyond the release date
Bollywood has a long tradition of the lone hero taking on a corrupt system, and Sunny Deol is one of its best-known action stars. This time, the system in the film’s frame is a hospital. The IMA’s worry is that showing attacks on doctors, nurses and hospital staff as justified could normalise hostility toward people already facing safety challenges at work.
Dr Nayak’s letter put the line simply:
“The actions of a few must not be used to tarnish the reputation of countless honest and dedicated doctors.”
The IMA also argues that such portrayals could discourage medical students and aspiring doctors at a time when India needs more healthcare workers. It accepts freedom of creative expression but says that freedom should be exercised responsibly when safety and public trust are involved.
As of now, the makers have not announced a change in the release plan. The ministry has been asked to examine the content, so the next step could decide how a professional body’s concerns are handled before a big Hindi release. For fans, the film remains on the calendar for 20 November unless a review changes that.
Source: The New Indian Express