After Alia Bhatt’s Exit, Oscar Winner Resul Pookutty Backs Out of ‘Piharwa’ — Bollywood’s Ghost Project Unravels

Oscar-winning sound designer-turned-director Resul Pookutty has officially exited the upcoming film Piharwa, marking yet another major setback for the long-gestating project. The film, a feature adaptation of the short film Plus Minus (2018), had already seen its lead actress Alia Bhatt leave the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Pookutty clarified his departure bluntly: “I am not involved in the film.”  Reportedly, the sequence of reversals began when Bhatt declined the lead role because of existing commitments. Producers then attempted to revive the film with Pookutty at the helm, but with Bhatt no longer attached and pre-production stalling, Pookutty decided to walk away.

Why This Matters

• The project’s collapse highlights how even high-profile talent cannot rescue a film once key elements—the lead actor, script or commitment—start falling apart.

• For Pookutty, the exit is particularly conspicuous. Known for his sound-design craft and earlier film working credentials, his move into directing was seen as ambitious—and this fallout raises questions about how strong his directorial ambitions really are.

• The repeated mis-fires of Piharwa reflect Bollywood’s broader issue of “resurrecting” shelved projects: once momentum is lost, cost-escalation, actor availability, and market viability become insurmountable.

How Did We Get Here?

• The film was initially announced in 2021 by first-time producer Avi Soni and was set to dramatise the life of Indian Army officer Baba Harbhajan Singh, who is mythologised to be “alive” at Nathula Pass.

• Bhatt was to play the lead role, with Pookutty signed on after director Jyoti Das Kapur stepped down. Pookutty had approached Bhatt for the project, but her withdrawal due to Brahmāstra – Part One : Shiva commitments derailed things.

• Without the actress and amid stalled production, Pookutty opted out, leaving the film in limbo yet again. An “industry insider” reportedly described his directorial prospects as derailed, at least for now.

The Controversial Undercurrents

• Star-dependency over story: The project’s fate seems less tied to the script or director and more to securing a top actress. This reveals how investing too heavily in star power—rather than narrative integrity—can backfire.

• Director’s image vs execution: Pookutty’s leap from sound design to directing was celebrated, but the collapse might cast a shadow on his ability to carry a feature. Some may question whether the announcement was more aspirational than grounded.

• Opportunity cost for cast & crew: With Bhatt’s exit and Pookutty’s withdrawal, other attachments (crew, locations, pre-production investments) may be losing value—underscoring the risk in dormant project development.

• Market perception: For producers and financiers, the repeated shelving of Piharwa may signal red flags: clients, talent and market may not see this as a viable proposition anymore, potentially diminishing future funding.

Final Word

The unraveling of Piharwa—with Bhatt’s exit followed by Pookutty’s withdrawal—serves as a cautionary tale. In Bollywood’s glamorous ecosystem, the biggest names and most ambitious subjects can still falter when fundamentals like lead casting and momentum slip away. For Pookutty, the exit marks a setback in his directorial journey; for the industry, it underscores that even Oscar laurels don’t guarantee smooth filmmaking journeys.