Mercy killing or euthanasia is not an easy subject for discussion. What made you take up Sukhaant?
I have always been attracted to different kind of subjects for different reasons. But every time my condition has been that the story has to be very strong because as an audience, I want the story to appeal to me.
Sukhaant brings out a very strong message. I think it was more like the story beckoning me rather than me wanting to do it.

Why do you say that?
It is a subject that is not easily acceptable. Like one crime for which you are punished if caught is suicide. As for me, I related to this subject because I feel it has a basic sense of personal freedom of the human being; the right to live or not considering the circumstances. Unfortunately very few countries all over the world have this law.

How strong is your role in this film?
In Sukhaant, I play a lawyer, whose mother has always been a strong woman. After her husband deserts her for another woman, she starts a small business in the village to bring up her young son. They love each other a lot. When she is old and cannot move, he treats her like a kid by feeding her, bathing her, etc. She tells her son to appeal in the court for her (self-inflicted) death. So I play the son, who files for his mother’s death and tries to get a positive verdict from the court, seeing her plight. He wants to free her from her pain.

Do you think this will be accepted by the audience?
I feel it will get a good response because I see it as an issue. Sometimes we have to accept situations that are beyond our understanding. This film will have people sit up and take notice of the fact that when our near, dear or old ones are ailing we have to relieve them of their pain.

But mercy killing or euthanasia is not legal in our country.
That’s true. But like I said, this film will have everyone thinking. Take for example the case of the pregnant woman in Mumbai last year, who wanted to abort her baby and was denied permission as abortion is considered illegal. The matter was later taken seriously and legal norms are being considered now. I think the debate has to start. Anything requires stimulus.

Did you have to do any research before doing the film?
I read books and visited websites on euthanasia. This helped a lot.

Is this is the first Indian film on mercy killing?
Apparently it is.

When is the film hitting the screens?
On November 20. It is not a regular run-of-the-mill film. It does not just tell a story but goes beyond it. And what is important is that it will raise a debate in our society. I am sure it will get a positive response for the betterment of our society.