Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty recently found himself in hot waters when he called filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s epic action-drama RRR a gay love story.
Pookutty, who won an Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing in 2009 for his work on Slumdog Millionaire, made the comment on Twitter, in response to a post by actor Munish Bhardwaj, who called the period action film “30 minutes of garbage”.
His comment, however, did not go down well with several people on social media. Though Pookutty disabled the reply button on his tweets, netizens slammed him for his opinion.
Soon, Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion producer Shobu Yarlagadda also took to Twitter and shared Pookutty’s tweet and slammed him. He wrote that he never thought people of 'such accomplishments could stoop so low.'
"I don't think RRR movie is a gay love story as you say but even if it was, is 'gay love story' a bad thing? How can you justify using this? Extremely disappointed that someone of your accomplishments can stoop so low!" the producer wrote.
Pookutty countered Yarlagadda's remark and asked him to not take his words "seriously". He also added that he didn't mean any offence to the film's team.
"Agree totally. Absolutely nothing wrong even if it was. I merely quoted to my friend, banter that already exists in the public domain & nothing else. There is no stooping factor in this. You don't have 2 take it seriously, Shobu, I didn't mean any offense to any stakeholders. I rest my case here! (sic)" he replied.
Headlined by Ram Charan and Jr NTR, RRR hit cinemas on March 24 and turned out to be a phenomenal success not only in India but overseas also. Helmed by SS Rajamouli, the film chronicles a fictional story woven around two real Indian revolutionaries in the 1920s - Alluri Sitarama Raju, played by Ram Charan, and Komaram Bheem, essayed by Jr NTR. Bollywood stars Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt played important cameos in the film.
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Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.