Oscar-winning Indian sound designer Resul Pookutty has been receiving flak online after he called SS Rajamouli’s 2022 action-drama RRR a ‘gay love story,’ as well as claiming that Alia Bhatt was merely a prop in the film.

Responding to actor Munish Bharadwaj’s tweet about RRR being ‘garbage,’ Resul Pookutty wrote, “Gay love story” and added that “@aliaa08 is a prop in that film.” The controversial take did not go down well with netizens, who criticized him for being ‘homophobic.’ A user posted, “There is no shame & harm even if it’s that kind of story #LGBT. Did not expect such low comments from an Oscar award winner. Respect should be given to the profession irrespective of its language & even if it does not satisfy us.”

The sound designer later clarified that he simply quoted what the movie was being called in the west. “That’s what they called it in the west. I merely quoted something that was already in the public domain. No offense meant,” he wrote. However, Resul Pookutty faced backlash for his explanation as well, with some calling the original tweet deliberate. RRR starred Jr NTR and Ram Charan in the lead roles while Ajay Devgan and Alia Bhatt made cameo appearances.

Gay love story ….

— resul pookutty (@resulp) July 3, 2022