Nobody gave me work in Bollywood after my Oscar, says Resul Pookutty
Amid allegations of nepotism and toxicity in the Hindi film industry in India following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty said he had been on the verge of a breakdown when he did not receive any work in Bollywood after he got the Oscar.
Amid allegations of nepotism and toxicity in the Hindi film industry in India following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty said he had been on the verge of a breakdown when he did not receive any work in Bollywood after he got the Oscar.
Taking to Twitter, Pookutty said, “Dear @shekharkapur ask me about it, I had gone through near breakdown as nobody was giving me work in Hindi films and regional cinema held me tight after I won the Oscar… There were production houses (that) told me at my face ”we don’t need you” but still I love my industry, for it…”
Dear @shekharkapur ask me about it, I had gone through near breakdown as nobody was giving me work in Hindi films and regional cinema held me tight after I won the Oscar… There were production houses told me at my face ”we don’t need you” but still I love my industry,for it…. https://t.co/j5CMNWDqqr
— resul pookutty (@resulp) July 26, 2020
His statement came as a response to actor and director Shekhar Kapur, who took to Twitter to comment on A R Rahman’s revelation about a group of people targeting the music director and spreading rumours.
A R Rahman had spoken out a few days ago, saying there was a “gang in the Hindi film industry” that was preventing him from getting work.
During an interview with Radio Mirchi, the Oscar-winning music director was asked the reason for doing less Hindi films. The musician said there were “misunderstandings” between him and filmmakers since some people had been spreading “rumours” about him in the industry.
Related news: ‘Bollywood gang’ spreading rumours, claims AR Rahman
“See, I don’t say no to good movies, but I think there is a gang, which, due to misunderstandings, is spreading some false rumours,” Rahman said.
Calling Oscar awards “the kiss of death in Bollywood”, Shekhar Kapur tagged an image of the article on Rahman’s statement and said on Twitter, “You know what your problem is @arrahman ? You went and got #Oscars . An Oscar is the kiss of death in Bollywood. It proves you have more talent than Bollywood can handle.”
You know what your problem is @arrahman ? You went and got #Oscars . An Oscar is the kiss of death in Bollywood. It proves you have more talent than Bollywood can handle .. pic.twitter.com/V148vJccss
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) July 26, 2020
Pookutty further said there were a “handful of people” who believed in him and continue to do so. The sound designer said he could have “easily shifted to Hollywood” post his Oscar win but he did not.
“@shekharkapur taught me how to dream…. there were a handful of people who trusted me and believed in me, they still do! I could have easily shifted to Hollywood but I didn’t and will not… my work in India won me the Oscar,I got nominated six times for #MPSE and won too…
“again all that for the work I have done here… There will always people to run you down but I have far more faith in my people than anybody else!
“and much later when I discussed this with my @TheAcademy members friends they told me about #OscarCurse! It’s faced by everybody! I enjoyed going through that phase, when you are on top of the world & when you know people reject you, it’s the biggest reality check!” he added.
Pookutty, in another tweet, put screenshots of all his tweets and said he was posting them so that they arent “wrongly interpreted.” “Oscar curse is over. We moved on. I’m also not liking the direction in which the whole nepotism discussion is going. So peace! I’m not blaming anybody for not taking me in their films.”
All my post r not seen in my timeline, posting it here again so that it’s not wrongly interpreted.Oscar curse is over, We moved on.I’m also not liking the direction in which the whole nepotism discussion is going. So peace! I’m not blaming anybody fr nt taking me in their films? pic.twitter.com/ldpzSNUlsP
— resul pookutty (@resulp) July 27, 2020
He later added, “Nepotism is the cheapest and most unimaginative corruption!”
Nepotism is the cheapest and most unimaginative corruption!
— resul pookutty (@resulp) July 27, 2020
Rahman and Pookutty won their respective Oscars in 2009 for the film Slumdog Millionaire. Rahman had won the award for the Best Original Score and Best Original Song, while Pookutty won the award for the Best Sound Mixing.
