The ambitious Bollywood project Piharwa, which was set to mark the directorial debut of Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, appears to have stalled once more. Pookutty has confirmed he is no longer involved with the film, which was previously turned down by actress Alia Bhatt.
The Film’s Concept and Production History
First-time producer Avi Soni announced Piharwa in 2021. The film is a feature adaptation of the 2018 short film Plus Minus, which starred Divya Dutta and Bhuvan Bam, and was originally to be directed by the short film’s director, Jyoti Das Kapur. Kapur, however, later stepped out of the project.
Piharwa is based on the intriguing real-life story of Baba Harbhajan Singh, a former Indian Army officer whose soul is popularly believed to still exist at the Nathula Pass on the China-Tibet border, offering protection to the country. A temple has been built in his memory at the Pass.
Alia Bhatt’s Departure and Resul Pookutty’s Exit
Following Kapur’s departure, Resul Pookutty was brought on board to direct the feature. He and the makers subsequently approached Alia Bhatt for the lead female role. However, the actress reportedly had to decline the offer due to date issues, as she was committed to wrapping up portions of Brahmastra – Part One – Shiva at the time.
A source close to the project revealed the impact of the star’s refusal: “After Alia turned down the film, the film was put on a back burner. Earlier this year, it was learnt that Resul had planned to revive the project and was now looking for a new female lead.”
When contacted for an update on the film’s status, Resul Pookutty initially replied with “No comments.” When pressed further on his continued association with the project, he clarified, “No, I am not involved in the film.”
This confirmed Pookutty’s departure. An industry insider noted that despite multiple attempts over the years, the celebrated sound designer has struggled to take any directorial projects off the ground, and Piharwa‘s falling apart suggests he may not direct anytime soon.