The emotionally powerful feature film Mercy concluded its global festival journey with two major honours at the 18th Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF) 2026 – Best Debutante Director for Mitul Patel and Best Actor for Raj Vasudeva.
Over the past year, Mercy has travelled across leading international festivals, earning both critical recognition and deeply emotional audience responses. From its screening at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival to winning Best International Feature Film in London, and appearances at the UK Asian Film Festival, Indian International Film Festival Stuttgart, and Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, the film consistently connected with viewers worldwide. Its trailer launch at the Indian Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival further amplified global attention.
In India, the film’s screening at the Jagran Film Festival in Mumbai saw a full house and an overwhelming emotional response, with audiences engaging in heartfelt conversations long after the screening ended.
Winning Best Actor at JIFF marked a special milestone for Raj Vasudeva, who also produced the film. Reflecting on the honour, he said: “This award feels deeply personal. Shekhar is a man who carries his pain in silence, who struggles with love and responsibility in ways many of us do but rarely speak about. To see audiences connect with his journey across countries has been incredibly humbling. Every screening reminded me why we chose to tell this story because sometimes, the greatest act of love is letting go.”
Raj’s international acting career continues to expand. He was recently seen in the Polish series Variola Vera, directed by Kuba Czekaj, and has completed the international series Dara, now airing on Dubai Plus in the UAE. He will also appear in Netflix’s upcoming series Operation Safed Sagar.
Acclaimed actor Adil Hussain reflected on the film’s journey, saying: “When a film travels beyond borders and still finds an emotional home with audiences, it reminds us of the universality of storytelling. The response to Mercy at international festivals has been both humbling and uplifting. I am thankful for the love it has garnered, and await the moment when audiences can witness this heartfelt story unfold on the big screen.”
Directed by Mitul Patel, Mercy explores the emotional journey of a family confronting inevitable loss, and the strength it takes to let go. Featuring Raj Vasudeva, Niharica Raizada, Kunal Bhan, Aparna Ghoshal, and Adil Hussain, the film has resonated widely for its intimate and universally relatable storytelling.
Produced by Raj Vasudeva and Anuradha Sachdev under the Everclear Films banner, Mercy now prepares to meet audiences across India carrying with it the recognition, emotion, and connection it built with viewers around the world.