Alia Bhatt’s latest film, Jigra, released on October 11, 2024, has been embroiled in controversy ever since its debut. Directed by Vasan Bala, the film faces accusations of plagiarism and box office manipulation, causing a stir in the entertainment world. The allegations mainly point to similarities between Jigra and Divya Khossla’s 2024 film Savi, a jailbreak thriller, alongside claims of fake box office numbers. Now, Vasan Bala has finally addressed these concerns and defended the film from these mounting criticisms.

Vasan Bala Breaks His Silence

In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Vasan Bala responded to the claims made by Divya Khossla and others. He dismissed the plagiarism accusations, stating that Savi was released when the editing of Jigra was nearly complete. He emphasized that both films are available for viewing, and audiences are free to compare them for themselves. According to Vasan, the idea that Jigra copied the plot of Savi is baseless.

He went further by inviting skeptics to investigate these claims themselves:
“Savi came out when we were editing the film. It is already out there. Everyone can watch it and make up their minds. I don’t really want to bring down anyone or add more fuel.”

Regarding the controversy surrounding inflated box office numbers, Bala clarified that he does not believe there is any significant issue, but welcomed any investigation into the matter, stating:
“With the false bookings, that, I think, is a distribution question. I don’t think it is that murky at all, but anyone who can investigate and bring out anything is more than welcome.”

Bijou Thaangjam’s Allegations of Discrimination

In addition to the plagiarism claims, Bijou Thaangjam, an actor from Manipur, accused the Jigra casting team of unprofessional behavior. Bijou claimed that the team discriminated against actors from Northeast India during the casting process.

Addressing this concern, Vasan Bala responded by clarifying that he did not remember seeing Bijou Thaangjam’s audition or face during the casting process. Bala explained that the team may have checked Bijou’s availability, but he was never officially shortlisted.
“I don’t remember seeing his face or audition. He was never told that he was shortlisted. I think they checked his availability. It is normal procedure to call and ask for availability. He probably assumed he got the part.”

Despite the clarification, Vasan expressed his regret for any hurt feelings, adding that misunderstandings like these can occur in the film industry.
“If he has felt bad, then I apologise because these things happen.”

Plagiarism and Box Office Controversies

The situation escalated further when Divya Khossla shared a photo of an empty theatre on Instagram, accusing Alia Bhatt and Karan Johar of inflating Jigra’s box office numbers. In response, Karan Johar posted a cryptic message on his Instagram story, stating:
“Silence is the best speech you will ever give to fools.”

Divya, however, did not back down. In an interview with HT City, she criticized Karan Johar’s response, saying:
“Is it right to call a woman a fool for pointing out unethical practices? If this happens to me, what about those new to the industry? No one is a king here, and I won’t be treated like a subject.”

The exchange between Divya Khossla and the Jigra team has drawn considerable attention, with fans and industry insiders speculating about the true nature of the box office performance and the originality of the film’s storyline.

The Future of Jigra and Vasan Bala’s Concerns

The controversy has placed significant pressure on Vasan Bala, who admitted that the lukewarm response to Jigra at the box office has been difficult to handle. He shared his disappointment and concern over the film’s underperformance, acknowledging that he feels he may have let down Karan Johar and Alia Bhatt, who produced the film.

At this point, Bala has decided not to rush into his next project, focusing instead on navigating through the ongoing situation. He mentioned that he is currently “busy grappling with this situation,” indicating that the recent developments have significantly impacted his current state of mind.

About the Film Jigra

Jigra tells the story of Satya Anand (played by Alia Bhatt), a young woman who embarks on a dangerous mission to save her brother Ankur Anand (played by Vedang Raina), who is imprisoned in a foreign jail and faces a death sentence. Determined to rescue her brother, Satya fights against all odds to break him out of the prison.

The film is co-written by Debashish Irengbam and Vasan Bala, and its action-packed narrative, combined with Alia Bhatt’s performance, was expected to draw significant box office numbers. Despite these high expectations, the film has not performed as Expected.

For more updates on Alia Bhatt’s Jigra, tune in to Vviptimes.