Shabana Azmi Joins Cast Of ‘USA v Raj’
India-West News Desk
LOS ANGELES, CA – Shabana Azmi’s entry into ‘USA v Raj’ gives the upcoming film a steady emotional anchor, and it is with her that the story naturally begins. Azmi plays Pammi Bothra, the quiet, resilient force who held her family together as their lives were upended.
The narrative is based on the man at the center of the storm: Dr. Rajendra Bothra, portrayed by Kabir Bedi. At 79, Bothra was indicted on 54 federal charges tied to his medical practice. What followed was a nearly four-year ordeal that pushed him to the brink. Denied bail multiple times and held for 1,301 days, the Padma Shri–winning surgeon found himself transformed from a respected physician and humanitarian to a federal prisoner fighting for basic dignity.
The film explores not only the crushing isolation that came with incarceration but also the disbelief felt by a man who had spent decades serving communities on two continents. Before his arrest, Bothra had advised Pope John Paul II on global health issues, worked with Mother Teresa, led charitable efforts supplying Indian hospitals with life-saving equipment, and served as in the Republican Party as the co-chairman of the Asian-American Coalition during the 1988 US presidential election.
Emily Shah steps in as Sonia Bothra, the daughter who became part advocate, part investigator, and full-time witness to the injustice unfolding around her family. Her arc traces the emotional and practical strain of navigating federal bureaucracy, media scrutiny, and the fear that the truth might never break through. Sonia’s presence injects the energy of youth into a legal battle weighted down by procedure and power.
The film is adapted from the memoir ‘USA v/s Raj,’ written by Dr. Bothra with Jennifer DeBellis. The book, described as a raw account of a broken federal system and an immigrant’s fight against wrongful imprisonment, premiered at this year’s Toronto Film Festival under the stewardship of legendary filmmakers Ramesh Sippy and Deepa Mehta.
The film is scheduled for a summer 2026 release by Bollywood Hollywood Production.
