Renowned filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor steps into the true crime genre with his latest series, The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, streaming on SonyLIV. Adapted from Anirudhya Mitra’s 2022 book, the show chronicles the intense 90-day investigation by the CBI’s Special Investigation Team following the tragic assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991, in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.

Kukunoor, known for personal films like Hyderabad Blues and Iqbal, said he was drawn to the project’s thrilling narrative, pitched by Applause Entertainment’s CEO, Sameer Nair. “It’s anything but political. It’s a true crime thriller, starting with the assassination and unfolding over 90 days,” he said. Avoiding political or religious themes, Kukunoor emphasized sensitivity in handling the real-life event, ensuring respect for surviving investigators and avoiding controversy.

The adaptation process, he explained, involved selectively dramatizing key moments from the dense book, collaborating with writers Rohit G Banawlikar and Sriram Rajan. Reflecting on 1991, Kukunoor recalled being in the US, studying environmental engineering, and learning of the assassination through sparse news updates. “It was a relearning of a massive event in Indian history,” he noted.

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Starring Amit Sial, Sahil Vaid, Bagavathi Perumal, and Girish Sharma, the series, co-produced by Applause Entertainment and Kukunoor Movies, has earned praise for its gripping storytelling. Kukunoor, who shuns social media and public controversies, lets his work speak, delivering a carefully crafted narrative that honors the investigation’s legacy.

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