Nobody gave me work in Hindi films after I won Oscar: Resul Pookutty
Mumbai: Sound designer Resul Pookutty on Monday said he stopped getting work in the Hindi film industry after he won an Oscar for "Slumdog Millionaire", with some production houses telling him upfront that they didn't "need" him at all.
Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman recently spoke about a "gang" that was preventing him from getting work in Bollywood.
His statement came amidst a raging 'insider versus outsider' debate in Bollywood that has following Sushant Singh Rajput's death last month.
Sharing Rahman's statement, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur had tweeted on Sunday that Bollywood can get insecure of an artiste who has earned recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
In a reply to the director, Pookutty said he has gone through something similar in the industry and it was the regional cinema who understood his value.
Pookutty bagged the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing in 2009 for his work in Danny Boyle's film, while Rahman won the Best Original Score and Best Original Song.
"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 (who) told me at my face 'we don't need you' but still I love my industry, for it taught me how to dream," he said.
In a series of tweets, Pookutty 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 didn't.
"My work in India won me the Oscar, I got nominated six times for MPSE (Motion Picture Sound Editors) and won too, again all that for the work I have done here. There will always (be) people to run you down but I have far more faith in my people than anybody else!"
Talking about the "curse of Oscar", the 49-year-old said he realised much later that every winner faces it.
"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 and when you know people reject you, it's the biggest reality check."
Pookutty, in another tweet, put screenshots of all his tweets and said he was posting them so that they aren't "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."
He later added, "Nepotism is the cheapest and most unimaginative corruption!"
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West Asia crisis: MEA establishes control room to assist Indians
New Delhi (PTI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has set up a control room to assist those affected by the escalating crisis in West Asia.
The MEA has said almost one crore Indian citizens live in West Asia and their safety and well-being is of "utmost priority" for New Delhi.
As the Iran-US conflict widened, the Indian embassy in Iran moved hundreds of Indian students from the Iranian capital of Tehran to safer locations.
"A Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region," the MEA said on Wednesday.
"The Control Room can be contacted from 9 am to 9 pm at: 1800118797 (Toll Free) +91 11 2301 2113, +91 11 2301 4104, +91 11 2301 7905," it added.
The US launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Following the military offensive, Iran has carried out a wave of attacks mainly targeting Israel and American military bases in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
The MEA on Tuesday noted that almost one crore Indian citizens live and work in the Gulf region, and their "safety and well-being is of utmost priority."
"We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them," it said.
The MEA said New Delhi will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and take relevant decisions in the national interest, adding it is in touch with the governments in the region as well as other key partners.
A Special Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region. Details are as below ⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 4, 2026
🔗 https://t.co/nK3d6SY9Pa pic.twitter.com/v2EhUI5B1x
