n a recent turn of events, Alia Bhatt's latest cinematic venture, Jigra, has encountered significant challenges since its release on October 11, 2024. The film, which delves into the complexities of sibling relationships and features Bhatt alongside Vedang Raina, has garnered a lacklustre response from audiences, culminating in substantial criticism and poor box office performance.
Despite an extensive promotional campaign, Jigra failed to resonate with viewers, resulting in its classification as a commercial flop. The backlash has been particularly pronounced, prompting director Vasan Bala to reassess his approach in light of the ongoing scrutiny.
Initially, Vasan Bala responded openly to the critiques aimed at the film, engaging directly with detractors on social media platforms. However, the persistent trolling has taken its toll. As of October 19, Bala was still active on X (formerly Twitter), but by October 20, his account had mysteriously vanished. A search for @Vasan_bala now yields no results, indicating that he has opted to deactivate his account in what appears to be a strategic retreat from the vitriol aimed at him and his work.
The controversies surrounding Jigra have been exacerbated by allegations from Divya Khosla Kumar, the wife of prominent film producer Bhushan Kumar. She has accused the film of being a derivative work, claiming it bears striking similarities to her own production, Saavi. Moreover, Kumar has suggested that Alia Bhatt is misrepresenting the film's box office figures, inflating them to bolster its perceived success. These allegations have ignited fervent discussions across social media, further intensifying the criticism directed at the film's creators.
Financially, Jigra has struggled to make an impact at the box office. In its opening weekend, the film garnered ₹4.55 crores, but after nine days of theatrical run, it has only amassed a total of ₹25.30 crores domestically. Given that the production budget for Jigra is estimated at around ₹80 crores, it seems increasingly unlikely that the film will recover its costs based on its current earnings trajectory.
