Nepotism, Fake Box Office Numbers, and Unprofessionalism: The Controversies Surrounding Alia Bhatt’s Jigra

Nepotism, Fake Box Office Numbers, and Unprofessionalism: The Controversies Surrounding Alia Bhatt’s Jigra

Jigra, which starred Vedang Raina and Alia Bhatt, was eagerly awaited due to its gripping plot, but several scandals have overshadowed the movie. Jigra’s release has sparked contentious debates in the media and among viewers, ranging from accusations of nepotism to assertions of exaggerated box office receipts.

Nepotism Allegations Against Karan Johar

Director Vasan Bala expressed his annoyance at co-producer Karan Johar sharing an incomplete Jigra script with Alia Bhatt without any changes beforehand in an interview with Tried&Refused Productions. Vasan stated, “I sent Karan a very kaccha pakka (roughly drafted) email, and he contacted me six or seven hours later to say that I had already sent it to Alia. I questioned Karan, “What made you do this?” Since many saw the action as showing preference for Alia Bhatt, who has regularly worked with Dharma Productions, this incident swiftly stoked discussions about nepotism.

A Reddit article that went viral revealed that 15 of Alia Bhatt’s 20 films were either produced or co-produced under Karan Johar’s brand, further escalating the debate. Karan Johar rejected the allegations, claiming they were a “severe misinterpretation” of the facts, while Vasan Bala later explained on Instagram that he had always desired to collaborate with Alia.

Press Screenings Cancelled

Dharma Productions canceled pre-release press screenings of Jigra a few days before its release. The move was made, according to sources, to combat corruption among film critics, who allegedly demand payments of between Rs 15,000 and Rs 60,000 for favorable reviews. According to a Dharma Productions source, influencers masquerading as critics may have staged unfavorable evaluations.

Divya Khosla Kumar’s Accusations

The drama escalated when Divya Khosla Kumar, an actress, and producer, accused Alia Bhatt of inflating Jigra’s box office receipts. She mockingly claimed that Alia had bought tickets to increase the movie’s earnings when she posted a picture of an empty theater on Instagram. In response to Divya’s charges, which caused a social media uproar, Karan Johar said, “The best speech you can give to idiots is silence.” In retaliation, Divya said that “truth will always offend fools opposed to it.”

Following analogies between Jigra and Divya’s Savi, which both center on the concept of rescuing a family member from prison, these accusations were made.

Kangana Ranaut’s Remarks on Bollywood Nepotism

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who is well-known for criticizing nepotism, fueled the flames with a mysterious remark. She referred to movies being sabotaged by insiders, but she didn’t specifically cite Jigra, saying, “When you destroy women-centric films and make sure they don’t work…” Her comments resonated with the current debates about the film’s issues.

Bijou Thaangjam’s Allegations of Unprofessionalism

Actor Bijou Thaangjam, who is from Manipur, added to the already mounting controversy by accusing Jigra’s creators of acting impolitely. He described the whole process as “deeply unprofessional,” revealing that even though he was considered for a job, he was kept in the dark.

Jigra’s Struggles at the Box Office

Jigra has done poorly at the box office, making just Rs 1.50 crore on its fourth day, for a total of Rs 18.10 crore, despite the hype and controversies. The lackluster showing is the lowest opening for an Alia Bhatt movie since 2014, and it is compared to her earlier successes, like as Raazi and Gangubai Kathiawadi, which had considerably better debuts.

Also Read: Rajkummar Rao Reveals Truth About His Finances: “I Don’t Have as Much Money as People Think”

About Jigra’s Storyline

The plot of Jigra centers on Satya (Alia Bhatt), who goes to tremendous measures to save her brother Ankur (Vedang Raina) from death row and prison. The Dharma Productions-produced movie examines issues of sacrifice and familial ties, but the controversy surrounding its distribution has threatened to overshadow its message.