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Cinema and television have long attempted to capture the demanding world of medicine – its relentless hours, difficult decisions and emotional highs and lows. From Anand and M*A*S*H to Scrubs , New Amsterdam and The Good Doctor , audiences have liked medical stories for different reasons. But for doctors themselves, the most memorable portrayals are those that reflect the profession with honesty – showing compassion, ethical dilemmas, teamwork, resilience, humility, and the emotional burden of caring for patients.

On National Doctors’ Day, they tell us about the on-screen doctors and medical dramas they believe came closest to portraying the realities of life in medicine.


‘Every time we lose a patient, a bit of us dies’
Prof Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director & Senior Paediatrician, Apollo Hospitals Group
Favourite on-screen portrayal: Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, New Amsterdam & Anand Doctor: Dr Bhaskar Banerjee, played by Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan’s character in Anand is an honest portrayal of how a doctor can struggle emotionally. Every time we lose a patient, a bit of us dies. It is very hard to explain what a doctor goes through when we lose a patient.




‘The most enduring lesson from Dr Bhaskar is that a doctor’s role extends beyond curing disease’
Dr Vivek Nangia , Vice Chairman & Head, Pulmonology, Max Healthcare
Favourite on-screen portrayal: Anand Doctor: Dr Bhaskar Banerjee, played by Amitabh Bachchan
Dr Bhaskar is a compassionate physician dealing with terminal illness and the emotional side of medicine. He embodies clinical competence grounded in science rather than theatrics, unwavering ethical integrity, genuine empathy, humility in acknowledging medicine’s limits, and a deep respect for the doctorpatient relationship. The most enduring lesson from Dr Bhaskar is that a doctor’s role extends beyond curing disease – it includes alleviating suffering, preserving dignity, and standing by patients when a cure is no longer possible.

‘The challenges Dr Max Goodwin and I face are remarkably similar’
Cuba Gooding Jr beautifully portrays the renowned paediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins who successfully led the world’s first separation of twins conjoined at the head.

I had the privilege of spending time with Dr Ben Carson in 2005 when he visited Apollo Hospital, Delhi, to help plan the separation of conjoined twins from Patna. The surgery ultimately did not take place because the family did not give consent. My interaction with Dr Carson gave me invaluable insights into his remarkable life and his ability to handle pressure. He told me that he had learned to “feed off pressure,” and that conversation has remained a lasting source of inspiration.

I also identify closely with Dr Max Goodwin (from New Amsterdam ) because, like him, I am both a practising clinician and a medical director. Although he works in the United States and I practise in India, the challenges we face are remarkably similar – balancing the needs of patients, doctors, hospital staff and patients’ families.

- Prof Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director & Senior Pediatrician, Apollo Hospitals Group


'The Good Doctor effectively highlights the importance of teamwork, ethics and communication'

Dr Shaun Murphy is one of the more realistic portrayals of a doctor on television. His commitment to evidence-based medicine, exceptional diagnostic abilities and unwavering willingness to advocate for his patients are particularly Although some medical cases are dramatised for television, the series effectively highlights the importance of teamwork, ethics and communication in modern medical practice.
- Dr Vipul Gupta , Director, Neurointerventional Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai

'Doctors do not count hours; they continue working until the patient has received the best possible care'
The doctor from M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) remains, by far, my favourite and what I believe is the best on-screen representation of the medical profession. The American medical comedy-drama series portrayed a team of doctors working in a mobile army surgical hospital, and my favourite character was Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda. What struck me most about M*A*S*H was the remarkable way the characters balanced their immense professional responsibilities with humanity, empathy, humour, and camaraderie. The series depicted soldiers being brought in through casualty evacuations by helicopters and showed how the medical teams performed surgeries for hours, often working late into the night under extremely challenging conditions.

Having served in the Armed Forces and been posted in Jammu & Kashmir, I have witnessed similar situations firsthand. I have seen helicopters land at hospital helipads close to midnight, with surgeons, nurses, operating theatre staff and support teams immediately reporting for duty without concern for working hours or personal comfort. The spirit portrayed in M*A*S*H accurately reflects the reality of military medicine, where everyone simply puts on their boots and reports for duty when patients need care. In fact, this commitment extends beyond the armed forces and is true of the medical profession in general. Doctors do not count hours; they continue working until the patient has received the best possible care.
- Dr (Lt Col) Leena N Sreedhar, Chairman, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Manipal Hospital Dwarka, New Delhi

'Scrubs captures the realities of medical life with surprising accuracy'

As an obstetrician and fertility specialist, I believe Dr John "JD" Dorian from Scrubs is among the best representations of a doctor on television. Although the series is humorous, it realistically portrays the emotional lives of doctors, their uncertainties, empathy, teamwork, and the balance between science and humanity.

Unlike many fictional doctors portrayed as flawless heroes, JD makes mistakes, learns from his seniors, struggles with adverse outcomes, and genuinely cares for his patients. That makes him far more relatable and authentic than the idealised doctors often seen on screen. While certain situations are exaggerated for entertainment, the show captures the realities of medical life with surprising accuracy. Medicine is not just about diagnosing and treating disease; it is also about listening, communicating and supporting patients through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
- Dr Mannan Gupta , Chairman, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Elantis Healthcare, Delhi