The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination: “Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination had already impacted me deeply” – Amit Sial

The web series The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, starring Amit Sial and centered around the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and its investigation, has struck a chord with audiences. Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, the series is now streaming on SonyLIV. In a recent interview, Amit Sial spoke in-depth about the show’s research process, moral responsibility, change in perspective, storytelling style, and more. Here's a look at what he shared.

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• What kind of response have you received from viewers for the show?

The response from the audience has been extremely encouraging. They are appreciating the story, the performances, and the direction.

• What were the major creative challenges you faced while working on this story, and how did you overcome them?

All the characters are based on real people, so there was a constant sense of responsibility to portray them with honesty and sensitivity. That includes how the officers were, their behavior, what they did, how they looked—every nuance mattered. You could say it required immense responsibility and attention to detail.

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• As an actor, how did you maintain emotional and mental balance while portraying such a historically sensitive subject like Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination?

The greatest strength of this script lies in its solid research and factual foundation. The series is based on the book 90 Days by Anirudhya Mitra, which itself is a well-researched and insightful adaptation. When the script is this strong and informative, the responsibility on the actor naturally increases.
Although I didn’t study technical investigation methods separately, I did learn a lot about Dr. D.R. Karthikeyan—his approach, leadership style, and how he led his team through this complex case. The entire show has been handled with extreme sensitivity. We made a conscious effort to stay neutral and present the investigation from an unbiased and balanced perspective.

• During the prep for this series, what were your sources for research? Did you have access to real documents, news reports, or official records?

All the necessary details were already in the script, so I didn’t need to conduct separate research. However, I did read extensively about the character I’m playing and watched his interviews to understand him better. That helped me a lot because there was quite a bit of material available on him.

• Did you feel a greater pressure to maintain sensitivity while working on such a real and emotional story, or did you view it as an opportunity as an actor?

I believe the primary responsibility lies with the filmmakers and producers, and I must say they handled the subject with great maturity and care. We all understood the gravity and historical significance of the event.

For me, this was more than just a risk—it was a profound responsibility. And it was a responsibility that was not only challenging but also deeply important.

• Did preparing for and playing such a serious role have any emotional or psychological impact on your personal life?

This incident had already impacted me long ago, as I was just 16 years old when it happened. The event remained a topic of intense public discourse for months. It was unlike anything we had seen before—a major national shock. Being part of this show brought back all those memories, making the emotional weight even more palpable.

• After being part of this project, did your perception about the country, politics, or history change in any way?

I’ve always believed—and this show only reaffirmed—that running a country or being a politician is an immensely difficult job. Especially in a country like India, with its vast diversity of languages, cultures, and traditions. Balancing all that diversity, listening to every voice, and still making decisions is a huge and complex responsibility.

This project deepened my understanding of that truth. That, I believe, is one of the show’s biggest takeaways. And when you embody such responsibility through a character, it leaves a long-lasting impact—on your personal perspective and your outlook on society.

• In today’s crowded content landscape, how does this show stand out—how would you define it?

This series is a throwback to the classic investigative storytelling style, where truth matters more than sensationalism or drama.
There’s no attempt to favor any side—it only presents what actually came up during the real investigation. At its core, it’s an investigative thriller based on true events, and that’s its biggest strength.

It transports viewers to a time and atmosphere where every clue, every testimony, and even silence meant something.

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