Lawyer wants changes in 'Guzaarish'

Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai’s upcoming movie Guzaarish has landed in a controversy. A lawyer has moved Delhi high court alleging that the movie promotes euthanasia or mercy killing, which is illegal, and portrays the legal profession in a bad light.

The lawyer, Aditya Dewan, demanded a disclaimer from the producers saying mercy killing is not legal in India and there is a big debate on whether such deaths can be allowed. The lawyer also asked the producers not to show the legal profession in a bad light.

Dewan accused Sanjay Leela Bhansali and UTV Motion Pictures of glorifying the right to die. “The movie is an attempt to propagate euthanasia and portrays the legal process in the country in a negative light,” the petition reads.

However, justice S Muralidhar refused to entertain his plea, saying it is a premature to pass judgments on a film that has not been released yet. In the film, 36-year-old Roshan plays a popular magician who becomes paraplegic after meeting with a near fatal accident. Hrithik is mostly confined to the wheelchair and Aishwarya Rai is his care-giver. Hrithik plays Ethan, a radio show host. Aishwarya plays a married nurse.

The movie, which brings up the controversial issue of euthanasia, is scheduled to be released on November 19. “Hrithik becomes paraplegic when a magical trick goes wrong but after 14 years he decides to die and petitions the court for the right to commit suicide. According to the petition, the movie deals with the cumbersome legal processes which have been depicted as red-tapism.

 “The movie has portrayed euthanasia sympathetically, but shown the legal system in India as the villain and in a negative light,” the petition says, adding that films are a responsible medium should adhere to societal values and the rule of law.